What Time Do You Start Dialysis

2015-01-16 03:43

What time should you begin dialysis? Dialysis is a treatment to replace the filtering function of the kidneys when they reach end stage renal disease, and your doctor will likely recommend dialysis. Well, when should you start dialysis?

Uremia develops to a certain stage, many metabolic products will accumulate in the body, and this will affect daily life and even threaten your life. At this time, dialysis is usually suggested. Generally speaking, when serum creatinine level is higher than 707umol/L or potassium level in blood is higher than 6.5mmol/L, you should start dialysis. However, if serum creatinine level, urea nitrogen or potassium level does not amount to the above level, patients experience serious uremia symptoms like metabolic acidosis, heart failure and hyperparathyroidism, it is better to start dialysis as early as possible. On the other hand, if serum creatinine and urea nitrogen level amounts to the above level, but patients do not have obvious symptoms, they can continue to choose no dialysis treatment. Potassium level is over 6.5mmol/L and it can be lowered to 5.5mmol/L after a period of treatment, it is no necessary to start dialysis immediately.

Early dialysis treatment is able to protect organs except for kidneys, but it does not protect residual kidney function. Well, when should you start dialysis?

Generally speaking, if kidney disease patients experience diabetes, high blood pressure, other body organs being damaged and other serious uremia complications, they should start dialysis as soon as possible, otherwise it affects the life span after dialysis. If kidney damage is under control, patients follow a proper diet and have no obvious symptoms, patients can continue no dialysis treatment.

Therefore, there is no exact answer to when you should start dialysis. Your doctor will help you decide when to start dialysis, based on results of lab tests that measure how much kidney function you have left and on your symptoms.

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