Complications of Dialysis
Complications of dialysis are much more and the dialysis itself is a big toll on the patients' quality of life. Complications of dialysis include:
Cardiovascular disease: The patient on dialysis may be attached by ischemic heart disease (IHD), cardiac failure and stroke (cerebral ischemia and haemorrhage). These cardiac complications are more common and are major cause of morbidity.
Hypertension: Hypertension may be encountered in 25-30 percent of the patients undergoing dialysis (renal replacement therapy). During dialysis the patient is also at the risk of developing hypotension and electrolyte imbalance.
Anaemia: The patients undergoing renal replacement therapy (dialysis) develop anaemia and are tretaed with erythropoietin or haematinic supplements.
Bleeding tendency: Bleeding tendency may develop due to platelet dysfunction. Acute bleeding can be treated with desmopressin or blood transfusion as recommended or needed.
Renal bone diease: Renal bone disease develops due to the lack of activated vitamin D3. It is treated with dietary modification, calcium supplements, alfacalcidol and phosphate binders.
Infections: The patients on dialysis can develop infections easily due to non-sterility of the venous lines haemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis.
Beta2 Microglobulin Amyloidosis: Amyloid accumulates in the patients who are on long term renal replacement therapy and the patients may present with arthralgia (joint and bone pain), fractures and carpal tunnel syndrome.
Acquired Renal Cysts: The patients on long-term dialysis may develop acquired renal cysts and they may present with haematuria or malignant transformation.
Malignancy: It is common in patients undergoing dialysis. It may be associated with the cause such as urothelial tumors in analgesic nephropathy.
These are the complications of dialysis which should be born in mind while you or some of your relative is on dialysis. In time management of these complications can save patients from big problem.
By: Dr. Muzammil Irshad (drmuzammilirshad@gmail.com)
Follow me on Twitter
