New News Biology #33

Kidneys - Part 3/3

Kidney Failure = kidney unable to carry out its proper functions

Main causes of kidney failure:

Waste builds up in the bloodstream

Unable to regulate water & ion levels in the blood

Consequences: the person will become sick or even die. Mild kidney disease could be treated with medication.

Treatment for Severe Kidney Failure:

Dialysis (machine):

Pros:

a) filters the blood for the patient

Cons:

3-4 days/week, 3-4 hours/time

Expensive

Continual treatment for life

Unpleasant experience

Kidney Transplant:

Pros:

Cheaper than dialysis

Cons:

Not enough organs to go around

Has a surgical risk

May be rejected by the immune system of the patient

How does the organ get to the patient:

Organ donated from a living or recently died donor

Donated organ is transported under medically-fit conditions

The patient who needs gets a transplant for the organ, and now they have a new and hopefully working kidney