"Can a Person with Uremia Undergo Dialysis Themselves?"
Treatment Options for Uremia
Individuals diagnosed with uremia can undergo dialysis, but generally, it is recommended to first undergo hemodialysis, followed by renal replacement therapy, which can help extend the patient's survival time. Uremia is not an independent disease but a clinical syndrome shared by late-stage kidney diseases, marking the final stage of chronic renal failure. At this point, the patient's kidney function has been largely lost, significantly impairing their quality of life, necessitating treatments such as hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, or kidney transplantation.
1. Hemodialysis: This process involves using a hemodialysis machine to filter the patient's blood, removing excess fluids, wastes, and toxins, and then returning the cleaned blood back into the body. Typically, hemodialysis is performed three times a week, each session lasting 4-5 hours. Hemodialysis corrects acid-base imbalances and electrolyte disorders, prolonging the patient's life.
2. Peritoneal Dialysis: Peritoneal dialysis utilizes the lining of the abdominal cavity (peritoneum) as a semi-permeable membrane to remove excess water and metabolic waste from the body, helping maintain electrolyte and acid-base balance. Patients can perform peritoneal dialysis 3-4 times daily, with each exchange involving 1000-2000ml of dialysate fluid, often requiring long-term continuation.
3. Kidney Transplantation: Kidney transplantation is one of the effective treatments for uremia, categorized as an organ transplant surgery. However, it carries a higher surgical risk. Patients typically undergo kidney transplantation under medical supervision and require post-surgery infection prevention measures.
Additionally, patients with uremia may also be prescribed medications like sodium bicarbonate or sodium lactate to correct acidosis, and in cases of hyperkalemia, glucose, insulin, or diphenhydramine may be administered as per doctor's instructions.
