Pediatric Dialysis

Who is the candidate for Dialysis?

Dialysis may be recommended for children with any of the following medical conditions:

• End-Stage Renal Disease: Dialysis is the primary treatment for individuals with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), a stage of kidney illness in which the kidneys have lost their ability to function adequately. Dialysis aids in the maintenance of fluid and electrolyte balance as well as the removal of waste materials from the blood.
• Acute Kidney Injury (AKI): Dialysis may be necessary temporarily in cases of acute kidney injury, such as severe infections, kidney infections, or drug-induced kidney damage until the kidneys restore their normal function.
• Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD): Dialysis may be required to support life and manage chronic kidney disease in advanced stages when the kidneys function is substantially reduced.

What are the indications of Dialysis?

Dialysis is not an option for everyone. The procedure is recommended after a thorough evaluation and assessment of the child to ensure the best outcomes.

Major indications for dialysis include:

• Decrease in the childs urine output.
• High waste product levels in the urine, such as urea and creatinine
• Severe fluid overload, which causes symptoms such as oedema, shortness of breath, or high blood pressure.
• Imbalances in electrolytes, such as excessive potassium levels (hyperkalemia) or excessive amounts of acid in the blood (metabolic acidosis).

Types of Dialysis:

Dialysis is broadly classified into two types based on the approach that is followed. These are:

• Hemodialysis is a type of dialysis in which a machine called a hemodialyzer filters the blood to eliminate waste materials, excess fluid, and toxins. Blood is extracted from the patient's body, processed by the dialyzer, and returned to the patient. Hemodialysis is usually done three times each week, with each session lasting several hours.
• Peritoneal Dialysis: Peritoneal dialysis is an alternate approach that uses the peritoneum, the lining of the patient's abdomen, as a natural filter. A catheter is used to deliver dialysis solution into the abdomen, and waste materials and excess fluid move from the blood vessels in the peritoneum into the dialysis solution. This procedure, known as an exchange, is usually repeated numerous times over the day.
• Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy (CRRT): CRRT is a type of dialysis that is mostly utilized in critically ill patients who have acute renal injury. It is a continuous blood purification technique that allows for the slow and gentle elimination of waste materials and fluid over an extended period of time. CRRT is frequently performed in the intensive care unit (ICU) and is adjusted depending on the clinical condition of the patient.
• Home Dialysis: For eligible patients, we provide home dialysis options such as hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis. Patients can benefit from home dialysis in the comfort of their own homes, giving them more flexibility and convenience.

Preparation

At Surya Hospital, we believe in maintaining complete transparency, ensuring that the parents are well-informed about the procedure as this will make it easier for them to prepare their little ones.

A series of tests will be performed to assess the child and make sure there is no complication that may impact the procedure.

The child may be required to take certain medications or make necessary adjustments as per the doctors recommendation.< /p>

Procedure

The steps involved primarily depend on the type of dialysis.

The child is taken to the Dialysis Unit where a specialized team of doctors, nurses and technicians are present to perform the procedure.

Once the procedure is complete the child is discharged. Kids with ESRD or serious kidney problems might be admitted to the hospital depending on their overall condition.