Last Updated on August 12, 2022 by Dr. Saumya Saluja
No. In the cases of last stage chronic kidney disease, dialysis or a kidney transplant is the only treatment option available. However, you can can also choose conservative care to improve the quality of life to manage your symptoms at this stage.
End-stage renal failure, also known as end-stage renal disease (ESRD), is the last stage of chronic kidney disease, where kidneys are unable to function independently, leading to kidney failure. This stage can’t be reversed. The treatment options for end-stage kidney disease include a kidney transplant, dialysis, and supportive care.
A kidney transplant is the treatment of choice for end-stage renal disease. It is a surgical procedure in which a healthy kidney from a live or deceased donor is placed into a person whose kidneys no longer function properly. The process is time-consuming, involving finding a donor, living or dead. On top of that, the kidneys need to best match your own. It consists of many post-surgical care with frequent checkups to monitor your progress. Medications are also prescribed to help keep your immune system from rejecting your new kidney. They also reduce the risk of post-surgery complications, such as infection. After a successful kidney transplant, your new kidney filters your blood, and you no longer need dialysis.
According to the National Kidney Foundation, when a patient develops end-stage kidney failure, they would need dialysis. Dialysis removes waste, salt, and extra water and prevents their build up in the body. It keeps a safe level of chemicals like potassium, sodium and bicarbonate in the blood and helps to keep the blood pressure under control.
Research states that the “key component of treatment for all people with advanced kidney disease is supportive care, which aims to improve quality of life and can be provided alongside therapies intended to prolong life, such as dialysis”.
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