Kidney Failure and Dialysis Flashcards

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What is the main job of the kidneys in the body?

They filter the blood to remove urea, extra salts and extra water, and they make urine.

What is meant by kidney failure?

Kidney failure is when the kidneys stop working properly and cannot clean the blood.

Why can untreated kidney failure be life-threatening?

Because wastes like urea and extra water and salts build up in the blood and can stop organs working.

What is dialysis used for in patients with kidney failure?

Dialysis is a treatment that does some of the job of the kidneys by cleaning the blood.

In haemodialysis, what separates the blood from the dialysis fluid?

A partially permeable membrane separates the blood from the dialysis fluid.

How does dialysis remove urea from the blood?

Urea diffuses from the blood, across the membrane, into the dialysis fluid where there is no urea.

Why does dialysis fluid contain no urea?

So there is a steep concentration gradient, which makes urea move out of the blood by diffusion.

Why is the concentration of glucose and mineral ions in the dialysis fluid similar to that in healthy blood?

So there is no overall change in glucose and useful ion levels in the patient’s blood.

How often do people usually need haemodialysis?

They usually need it several times a week, and each session lasts for several hours.

Why must people on dialysis limit how much they drink between sessions?

Because extra water can build up in the body between sessions and cause swelling and high blood pressure.

Give two disadvantages of having regular dialysis.

It is very time-consuming and can be uncomfortable, and patients must follow a strict diet and limit how much they drink.