Other Treatment for Acute Renal Failure
Acute renal failure often necessitates treatment with dialysis, a mechanical process in which a machine performs the functions of healthy kidneys. In this mechanical process, wastes, such as urea, are cleared from the blood, the right balance of electrolytes is restored and excess fluids are filtered out of the body.
Two types of Dialysis are used in treating acute kidney failure. Hemodialysis, which is the most common treatment, employs a mechanical membrane, the dialyzer, which strains and removes waste from the blood as well as drains excess fluid. For best results, especially when the patient is critically ill, this is typically administered daily. Peritoneal dialysis, which is less frequently used in the management of acute renal failure, removes waste and excess fluids with the use of the lining of the patient’s abdominal cavity and dialysate solution.
To measure the efficacy of the dialysis, blood samples are taken before and after the process, checking the levels of urea (blood urea nitrogen or BUN). This process determines how well wastes are removed from the patient’s bloodstream.
In cases of severe kidney failure, other than undergoing a kidney transplant, dialysis remains the only way to sustain life.