Hemodialysis Basics RPN

Hemodialysis is a life-sustaining renal replacement therapy that performs the essential functions of the kidneys when they can no longer adequately filter blood, maintain fluid and electrolyte balance, or excrete metabolic waste products. Kidney failure (stage 5 chronic kidney disease) is a GFR below 15 mL/min/1.73 m²; dialysis is started when kidney failure causes problems such as uremic symptoms, fluid overload, hyperkalemia or metabolic acidosis that cannot otherwise be controlled. The kidneys normally regulate fluid volume, electrolyte concentrations (sodium, potassium, calcium, phosphorus), acid-base balance, and excrete metabolic waste products (urea, creatinine, uric acid). The kidneys also produce erythropoietin (red blood cell production), activate vitamin D (calcium metabolism), and regulate blood pressure through the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. When these functions fail, toxic metabolites accumulate, causing the uremic syndrome.