Renal Failure

Renal Failure – General Information

Renal Failure is a disease characterized by an emergent loss of the kidneys’ possibility to perform their major function, which consists in the elimination of the extra quantity of waste material and fluids from the blood. If the kidneys lose this function, dangerous quantities of waste substances and fluids pile up in the sufferer’s body. Renal Failure is quite likely to affect people who are already hospitalized and who have had a serious injury, a complicated surgery or those who experience a blockage of the blood flow to the kidneys. Even though this disorder usually develops suddenly, it can also evolve over a certain period of time, causing no major signs and symptoms in an early stage. In this situation, the most common risk factors are diabetes and a high pressure of the blood. Renal Failure is a serious disorder which can lead to the appearance of a large number of complications; this is the reason why those who are diagnosed with this disease need immediate treatment. However, the good part is the fact that, if it is diagnosed in an early stage, this disease is reversible, which means that it can be treated effectively in a short period of time, usually a few weeks. If this disorder appears as a side-effect of a more serious complication, such as a stroke, a heart attack, a multi-organ failure or a severe infection, it cannot be treated that easy and its outcome is generally quite worse. If left untreated for a long period of time, this disorder can even lead to sudden death.

Renal Failure - Symptoms

In an early stage, Renal Failure is usually asymptomatic, which means that it does not lead to the appearance of any signs or symptoms. However, as the disease evolves and the ability of the kidneys to perform their functions decreases, some signs and symptoms start to develop. These symptoms are usually related to the impossibility of the kidneys to adjust the levels of electrolytes and water in the body, to assure a correct production of the red blood cells and to clear the extra quantities of waste substances in the blood.  In this stage, the sufferer may experience shortness of breath, weakness, lethargy and generalized swelling. The failure of the kidneys can be the result of a metabolic acidosis or an increased level of acidity in the organism, due to the impossibility of manufacturing bicarbonates. One of the consequences of the renal failure is hyperkalemia (the rising of the potassium levels) which is usually associated with arrhythmias (disturbances of the heart rhythm which can be fatal). Once the levels of urea in the blood start to rise, a variety of organs inside the human body can get affected and a large number of complications may develop: pericarditis (the inflammation of the coverage of the heart), encephalopathy (the inflammation of the brain coverage) or hypocalcemia (a decreased level of calcium which results in decreased muscle function).  Other symptoms which characterize Renal Failure include anemia, loss of appetite and decrease of mental function, a complication which will finally result in the appearance of coma.

Renal Failure- Treatment

If you notice the appearance of any of the signs and symptoms presented above, you should consult a doctor as soon as possible in order to obtain a sure diagnosis and to benefit from the best way of treatment. In order to obtain a sure diagnosis and to decide whether you suffer from Renal Failure or not, your doctor will probably ask you to take a blood and urine test; these tests will provide information about any abnormalities, such as a high level of creatinine, potassium or urea in the blood. The most common changes associated with this disease include: a sudden fall of the daily urine output, an increased level of potassium in the blood and an abnormal level of electrolytes. If the doctor suspects an obstruction to be the cause of the Renal Failure, he may choose to perform an abdominal exam, using ultrasound as this offers exact images of the kidneys. In some rare cases, the doctor can also choose to remove a sample of the tissues of the kidneys in order to examine it in the laboratory. If the disease is diagnosed in an early stage, it is more likely for the sufferer to recover completely, especially if his general health condition is good. In some rare cases, the Renal Failure is irreversible and, in such situations, the sufferers need permanent medical care in order to have a normal life or, if possible, he can go through a kidney transplant.

After the diagnosis is established, the doctor has to choose the best way of treatment, considering the patient’s general condition, his age and other important factors. The first goal of the treatment is to handle the primary injury, that which firstly cause the damage of the kidneys. At the moment the doctors deal with this problem, they will focus on preventing the excessive accumulation of waste and fluids in the blood. In order to be able to control the excess fluids, the doctor will probably recommend the sufferer to follow a strict diet, based on a high level of carbohydrates and a low level of potassium and proteins. In addition to these, in order to prevent a high accumulation of potassium in the blood, the doctor may prescribe sodium supplements, calcium supplements or glucose supplements. In the case of Renal Failure it is extremely important to keep under control the levels of potassium in the blood as a high quantity of this agent can lead to arrhythmias (irregular and dangerous heartbeats). However, in most of the cases, those who suffer from Renal Failure also have to undergo dialysis in order to remove the excessive fluids and the toxins in the body. This procedure consists in a mechanical filtering of the excessive fluids and waste in the sufferer’s body and it can replace the kidneys almost perfectly. There are no advices which one can follow in order to prevent the appearance of this disease, but the doctors offer a few suggestions in order to reduce the risk of suffering from this disease: do not abuse drugs or alcohol and always follow carefully the doctor’s recommendations.