Nephrology is an area of internal medicine that examines and treats not only the kidneys but also the body as a whole.
Nephrologists are experts at caring for patients with kidney disease and other conditions related to kidney disease. They are involved in long-term treatment of patients. Starting with the diagnosis of proteinuria/hematuria, our department manages everything from the initial stages of kidney disease to the terminal phase, including treatment of kidney disease and the introduction of dialysis and post-dialysis management. Medical conditions commonly treated are:
- Chronic kidney disease (CKD)
- Glomerulonephritis
- End-stage kidney disease
- Kidney failure
- Kidney cancer
- Kidney stones
- Kidney infections
- Nephrotic syndrome
- Renal artery stenosis
- Polycystic kidney disease
- Hemolytic uremic syndrome
In addition, we are often consulted by other departments for the management of
- Acute kidney injury
- Fluid and electrolyte disturbances
- Drug overdose
Services
· Hemodialysis: Nephrologists are responsible for medical care during dialysis treatments. Hemodialysis is a type of dialysis that uses a machine with a special filter to clean the patient’s blood.
· Peritoneal dialysis: Peritoneal dialysis is a type of dialysis that uses the inside lining of the patient’s belly to act as a natural filter rather than the external machine used in hemodialysis.
· Plasmapheresis: is done to remove plasma from someone’s blood and replace it with either Albumin or plasma from a healthy donor.
· Kidney Biopsy: is a procedure that is used to obtain small pieces of kidney tissue to look at under a microscope. It may be done to determine the cause, severity, and possible treatment of a kidney disorder.
· Kidney transplant: When a patient has ESKD or Kidney Failure, they either need to get a kidney transplant or dialysis as described above. Nephrologists are usually responsible for patient care before and after a kidney transplant. They are responsible for a transplant patient’s long-term follow-up care.
· Management of high blood pressure: High blood pressure (hypertension) has the potential to cause issues with the kidneys. Nephrologists are experts at managing complicated patients with difficult to treat hypertension.
· Nutritional counseling: Kidney patients often need to pay close attention to their diets as they manage their illness. This is especially true for patients on hemodialysis. A nephrologist can provide expert guidance on nutrition and diet. They can also refer you to a trusted renal nutritionist.