NURS 3664 Lecture Notes - Lecture 15: Peritoneal Dialysis, Catheter, Peritonitis
Document Summary
Movement of fluid/molecules across a semipermeable membrane from one compartment to another. Used to correct fluid and electrolyte imbalances and to remove waste products in kidney failure. Can be used to treat drug overdoses. Clinically, dialysis is a technique in which substances move from the blood through a semipermeable membrane and into a dialysis solution (dialysate). Begun when patient"s uremia can no longer be adequately treated conservatively. This criterion can vary widely in different clinical situations, and the nephrologist determines when to start dialysis based on the patient"s clinical status. Certain uremic complications, including encephalopathy, neuropathies, uncontrolled hyperkalemia, pericarditis, and accelerated hypertension, indicate a need for immediate dialysis. Some patients are physically or mentally unsuitable for transplantation. An increasing number of individuals, including older adults and those with complex medical problems, are receiving maintenance dialysis. A patient"s chronologic age is not a factor in determining candidacy for dialysis.
