When a person has been diagnosed with kidney disease, they are typically put into a phase of care known as "stage 4 renal disease." This is because this is the most difficult stage for an individual to recover from. Kidney disease in stage 4 can have serious complications and should be treated accordingly.
In this stage, the kidneys are no longer capable of filtering and storing the water that is essential for the body, such as urine, feces, and crystallized substances. The kidneys are also unable to remove harmful elements such as lead, arsenic, and mercury. This is when it becomes important to find a treatment method that is effective.
When stage IV kidney disease occurs, the kidneys can no longer filter waste products and chemicals that are produced in the body. A fluid in the body, called urine, becomes concentrated and can damage the kidneys. The kidneys can become inflamed and scarred, requiring the body to be treated to prevent kidney damage. A catheter will be placed into the body through the urethra, and a catheter pump will be used to remove fluid from the kidneys through the dialysis machine.
Kidney failure is often the result of a person's kidneys being unable to eliminate toxins. Kidney failure can occur in stages one through three, but often does not occur until the kidney is damaged and cannot be repaired. When this happens, dialysis is necessary for the body to function properly. Dialysis removes fluid waste from the kidneys using a filter, and it picks up waste from the kidneys and delivers it back to the bloodstream through a tube that connects to the sac. This bag serves as a filter that allows waste to pass through the bag and back into the bloodstream.
Dialysis is usually given to patients who have reached stage 4 kidney disease. After dialysis, patients are given medications to keep their kidneys healthy and prevent damage. In some cases, your doctor may recommend extending dialysis for a few more years to make sure your kidneys continue to function properly. After all other treatment options have been tried, dialysis may be recommended.
Stage 5 or "end-stage renal disease" refers to people who have already received dialysis and still need dialysis. The kidneys can no longer filter and store enough fluids to function normally. Dialysis is then required to replace the loss of kidney fluid through the vein. Dialysis can be done under general anesthesia or through a vein, and is usually given to people with advanced kidney disease. After all other treatment options have been exhausted, dialysis can be continued to prevent further kidney damage.
In stage six or "metastatic kidney cancer" patients, the kidneys are still able to process wastes and toxins in their system, but have not yet been affected by the damage caused by the previous stages of kidney disease. When kidney cancer has reached this stage, surgery will be necessary to remove the kidney and remove any tumor. Cancer can also spread from one organ to another through the bloodstream, which makes treating the cancer difficult.
Stage seven or "progressive kidney cancer" describes the case where the kidneys have progressed beyond the seventh stage and are no longer able to filter enough fluid for the body to function. Advanced kidney cancerous tumors may be removed through excision or resection, but often there is no treatment that will prevent the tumors from growing back in the future.
