Chronic Renal Failure
Chronic Renal Failure
Chronic Renal Failure
Learning Outcomes
At the end of this lecture, students will be able to: Recognise what ESRD means and its causes. Discuss the pathophysiological changes associated with ESRD. Describe the clinical manifestations of ESRD, and related assessment and diagnostic findings. Describe the medical management of a patient with ESRD. Discuss the nursing management of a patient with ESRD.
Introduction
Chronic renal failure, or ESRD, is a progressive and irreversible deterioration in renal function in which the bodys ability to maintain metabolic and fluid and electrolyte balance fails, resulting in retention of urea and other nitrogenous wastes in the blood. Diabetes mellitus may cause ESRD. Other causes may be hypertension, chronic glomerulonephritis, pyelonephritis, obstruction of the urinary tract, heredity, as in polycystic kidney disease, vascular disorders, infections, medications, or toxic agents.
Pathophysiology of ESRD
As renal function declines, the end products of protein metabolism accumulate in the blood. Uremia develops and adversely affects every system in the body. The greater the buildup of waste products, the more severe the symptoms. ESRD occurs when there is less than 10% nephron function remaining. All of the normal regulatory, excretory, and hormonal functions of the kidney are severely impaired.
Nephron
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Medical Management
Pharmacologic therapy:
Antacids: Hyperphosphatemia and hypocalcemia are treated with aluminum-based antacids that bind dietary phosphorus in the GI tract. To avoid the potential long-term-toxicity of aluminum and its association with neurologic symptoms, calcium carbonate is prescribed. Antihypertensive and Cardiovascular Agents: Hypertension is managed by intravascular volume control (via dietary salt restriction) and a variety of antihypertensive agents. Heart failure and pulmonary edema may also require treatment with fluid restriction, low-sodium diets, diuretic agents, inotropic agents such as digitalis or dobutamine, and dialysis.
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Nutritional therapy:
Protein is restricted because urea, uric acid, and organic acids accumulate rapidly in the blood. The allowed protein must be of high biologic value (dairy products, eggs, meats). Usually, the fluid allowance is 500 to 600 mL more than the previous days 24-hour urine output. Calories are supplied by carbohydrates and fat to prevent wasting. Vitamin supplementation is necessary because a protein-restricted diet does not provide the necessary complement of vitamins. Additionally, the patient may lose water-soluble vitamins from the blood during dialysis.
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Hemodialysis:
Hyperkalemia is usually prevented by ensuring adequate dialysis treatments with potassium removal and careful monitoring of all medications for their potassium content. The patient is placed on a potassium-restricted diet. Dialysis is usually initiated when the patient cannot maintain a reasonable lifestyle with conservative treatment.
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