| Acute
Kidney Failure |
A
form of kidney failure that happens quickly. It may be caused by injury
or drugs. With proper treatment, kidneys may return to normal function
following acute kidney failure.
|
| Adequacy |
Receiving
a minimally acceptable level of dialysis (dialysis effectiveness and
nutritional status) to prevent uremic symptoms like poor appetite
and nausea.
|
| Anemia |
People
with a low red blood cell count have anemia, or are said to be anemic.
|
APD
or Automated
Peritoneal Dialysis |
A
term used to describe a method of PD that uses a machine (cycler)
for installation and drainage of the dialysis solution.
|
| Catheter |
A
tube used to remove or instill dialysis solution into the peritoneal
cavity.
|
| CAPD
or Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis |
One
method of peritoneal dialysis that is performed using a gravity-based
technology instead of the use of a cycler.
|
| Clearance |
The
rate at which a given substance is removed from a solution (e.g.,
the clearance of urea from the blood by the natural or artificial
kidney). Defined as the number of milliliters of solution that would
be completely cleared of a given solute in a preferred time period.
|
| Creatinine |
A
byproduct of normal muscle metabolism that is produced at a fairly
constant rate in the body and normally filtered by the kidneys and
excreted in the urine. Measuring creatinine is the simplest way to
monitor kidney function.
|
CRF
or Chronic
Renal Failure |
Gradual
destruction (over a period of time) of kidney tissue that will eventually
result in reduced kidney function.
|
| Dialysis
|
Removal
of waste products and excess water through a semipermeable membrane.
There are two general types of dialysis: hemodialysis (HD) and peritoneal
dialysis (PD).
|
| Dwell
time |
The
amount of time dialysis solution remains in the abdominal cavity during
peritoneal dialysis.
|
| DOQI
|
Dialysis
Outcomes Quality Initiative. Clinical practice
guidelines for ESRD patients established by the National Kidney Foundation
in the U.S.
|
ESRD
or End-Stage
Renal Disease |
Stands
for "end-stage renal disease," which means "kidney
failure," which requires dialysis or kidney transplant to live.
|
| Exchange |
In
peritoneal dialysis, the procedure of discarding the used dialysis
solution and instilling fresh dialysis solution into the abdominal
cavity.
|
| Hematocrit |
Hematocrit
is a measure of the level of red blood cells in the bloodstream.
|
| Hemodialysis
(HD) |
A
modality for treating renal failure that cleans the blood by taking
it outside of the body and pumping it through a filter called a dialyzer.
|
| Hemoglobin |
A
measure of the blood's ability to carry oxygen.
|
| Nephrologist |
A
physician who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases
of the kidney.
|
Percent
kidney
function |
Perecent
kidney function is a number that tells how much of the kidneys are
working. This is calculated from blood and urine tests.
|
| Peritoneal
cavity |
Part
of the abdominal cavity in the body where organs like the stomach,
liver, instestines and spleen are located. This is the site where
peritoneal dialysis takes place.
|
Peritoneal
dialysis
(PD) |
A
modality for treating renal failure utilizing the peritoneal membrane
that lines the abdominal cavity as the semipermeable membrane to remove
excess water and toxins from the blood via osmosis and diffusion.
|
| Peritoneum |
The
membrane covering the tissue and lining of the abdominal cavity.
|
| Renal |
Relating
to, involving, or located in the region of the kidneys.
|
RRF
or Residual
Renal Function |
The
amount of remaining function of the kidneys. An important factor to
know when prescribing the amount of dialysis required. The longer
a patient is on dialysis, the less RRF the patient has, until it is
completely gone.
|
| Serum
albumin |
Serum
albumin is a protein in the blood that is often monitored in patients
to determine how well the patients are nourished.
|
| Transplantation |
A
treatment for kidney disease. A kidney from a living donor or from
someone who has died is surgically placed into a patient's body to
replace the function of the impaired kidney.
|
| Ultrafiltration |
Removing
of fluids through a membrane by exerting greater hydrostatic or osmotic
pressure on one side of the membrane.
|
| Urea |
A
waste product of digested protein normally filtered out by the kidneys
and excreted from the body in urine.
|
| Uremia |
The
condition in which a person gets sick from wastes (toxins) that build
up in the blood. Someone who has uremia may experience nausea, weakness,
weight loss, memory problems, and/or trouble sleeping.
|
| Urine |
Excess
fluid and waste products excreted from the body by the kidneys.
|
| Solute |
A
substance dissolved in a solution.
|
|
Print this page
