Kidney biopsy
A kidney biopsy is often recommended for those who notice blood in the urine (hematuria), excess protein in the urine (proteinuria) or progressive kidney failure. Kidney biopsy might reveal the causes for improper functioning or rejection of a transplanted kidney. If urine tests, ulrasound or CT scan reveal possible kidney problems, kidney biopsy can aid in determining the cause.
A patient undergoing kidney biopsy is given sedation through IV. The biopsy needle is inserted through the skin with the aid of ultrasound. A small sample tissue is taken for examination. There is likely to be mild soreness in the muscle and some blood in the urine for the next 24 hours. Serious complications include puncture of a major blood vessel or bleeding into the kidney. Abnormal results of kidney biopsy show signs of scarring or inadequate blood flow or signs of disease such as renal cancer. Patients with blood clotting disorder are not advised to undergo this diagnostic test. Obesity, UTI, hypertension are some factors that can affect the accuracy of kidney biopsy results.
Nephrologist
Nephrologists are specialists who specialize in diagnosing and treating diseases related to the kidney. They are trained to mange kidney disorders too. Pediatric nephrologists treat the same conditions in infants, children, and young adults. Nephrologists should complete medical school and then complete three years in internal medicine and further specialize for two years in the field of nephrology. Pediatric nephrologists have to further take special certification to qualify as pediatric nephrologists. Nephrologists also termed as renal physicians treat diseases related to the kidney, any malfunctioning in the kidney can affect other organs of the body.
- Conditions that can lead to kidney disorders such as hypertension and diabetes mellitus.
- Check the functioning of the kidney.
- They treat polycystic kidney diseases.
- Prescribe medications for kidney disorders.
- Support kidney transplantation.
- Treat patients who have kidney failure also called as renal failure / uremia.
- Treat patients with kidney stones.
- Removes sample from the tissues of the kidney for biopsy purposes.
Dialysis
When there is severe impairment in the kidney functioning, dialysis is resorted to. It involves performing some of the kidney functions with the help of a machine that works towards fluid and waste removal from the body. This is often resorted to in cases of kidney disease or renal failure.
Hemodialyis: Here an artificial kidney does the task of waste removal. A minor surgery is performed to create an access for the blood vessels into the artificial kidney. Sometimes catheters might be inserted. Blood is transferred from your body and into the machine, which filters out waste products and excess fluids. The filtered blood is then passed back into your body. Hemodialysis is done about thrice a week.
Peritoneal dialysis: Here, the cleansing is done within the body where the peritoneal membrane is used. With catheters placed inside the abdomen, dialysis fluid (dialysate) is pumped into the abdominal cavity. Waste products and excess fluid move from the blood to the dialysis fluid; which is later drained out.
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