Hemodialysis Treatment Options For Patients with End-Stage Renal Disease

Course overview

Hemodialysis is a lifesaving treatment among patients with reduced kidney function who have not responded to conservative forms of therapy. Most people who have hemodialysis require it to avoid symptoms from the buildup of waste products and toxins in the bloodstream that are normally excreted by the kidneys. Optimal dialysis continues to be an area of research in the treatment of end-stage renal disease. The duration and frequency of hemodialysis have been the goal of research groups focused on treatment outcomes, including morbidity and mortality of hemodialysis patients. Alternative dialysis treatment options relative to quality of life, cost-saving or cost-neutral benefits, and the impact of chronic kidney disease treatment upon the health system, patients, and their families have been studied. While a kidney transplant remains the optimal treatment for end-stage renal disease, dialysis will likely be needed as all options for treatment are considered.