STARS Dialysis Unit

Provides Both Hemodialysis and Peritoneal Dialysis Options:

• Hemodialysis: The unit offers hemodialysis, where blood is filtered through a machine outside the body. It requires a dedicated dialysis machine, trained staff and access to vascular surgeons to ensure the proper functioning of dialysis access points such as fistulas or grafts.
• Peritoneal Dialysis: Some units also offer peritoneal dialysis, which uses the patient’s own abdominal lining (peritoneum) as a natural filter. This provides patients with more flexibility and, in some cases, the option to perform dialysis at home.

Regular Monitoring and Management of Complications:

• Close Monitoring: A hospital-based dialysis unit allows for close monitoring of patients, ensuring that any complications related to dialysis, such as infections, blood pressure fluctuations, or imbalances in electrolytes, are promptly addressed.
• Skilled Healthcare Team: Dialysis units are staffed with nephrologists, dialysis nurses and technicians who are trained to handle emergencies, manage patients’ treatment plans and ensure safe and effective dialysis sessions.

Reducing Hospital Admissions and Emergency Visits:

• Preventive Care: By offering regular dialysis sessions in a controlled environment, the dialysis unit helps prevent emergencies such as hyperkalemia (high potassium levels), fluid overload and cardiovascular complications, which can otherwise result in emergency room visits and hospital admissions.
• Chronic Disease Management: Regular dialysis in a hospital unit helps manage chronic kidney disease more effectively, reducing the burden of acute complications and improving patient outcomes over the long term.

Integrated Care for Complex Medical Conditions:

• Multidisciplinary Approach: Many patients undergoing dialysis also suffer from comorbid conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, or cardiovascular disease. The hospital’s dialysis unit allows for coordinated care with specialists from cardiology, endocrinology and other departments to manage complex cases comprehensively.
• Access to Emergency and Critical Care: In the event of complications during dialysis, such as low blood pressure or cardiac events, immediate access to the hospital’s emergency and intensive care services ensures rapid intervention and enhances patient safety.

Support for Acute Kidney Injury (AKI):

• Temporary Dialysis for Acute Conditions: Dialysis is not only for chronic kidney failure but also for patients experiencing acute kidney injury (AKI) due to conditions like severe dehydration, shock, drug toxicity, or sepsis. A hospital dialysis unit provides life-saving care for these patients until kidney function can be restored or stabilized.
• Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy (CRRT): For critically ill patients in the ICU, the dialysis unit can offer CRRT, a slower form of dialysis that is more suitable for unstable patients, ensuring they receive the care they need without further compromising their health.

Education and Support for Patients and Families:

• Patient Education: The dialysis unit provides ongoing education for patients about their condition, helping them understand the importance of fluid management, diet and medication adherence, which are crucial for successful dialysis treatment.
• Emotional and Psychological Support: Managing chronic kidney disease can be emotionally challenging. A dedicated dialysis unit can provide psychological support, counseling services and group support sessions to help patients and their families cope with the emotional impact of long-term dialysis treatment.

Improves Quality of Life:

• Consistent Care: Regular dialysis treatments allow patients to maintain a stable, healthier lifestyle by preventing complications of kidney failure. This improves their ability to engage in daily activities, work and spend time with family.
• Focus on Long-Term Health: Dialysis units are committed to helping patients live longer, healthier lives by managing symptoms and reducing the risk of life-threatening complications, thereby enhancing the patient’s overall quality of life.

Accessibility and Convenience:

• Reduced Burden of Travel: Having a dialysis unit within the hospital allows patients to receive treatment in a familiar setting without needing to travel long distances to specialized dialysis centers. This is especially important for elderly patients or those with mobility issues.
• Continuity of Care: A hospital-based dialysis unit ensures that care is seamless, with the patient’s complete medical history accessible and integrated into their dialysis treatment plan, ensuring continuity of care in case of emergencies or other medical conditions.

A Dialysis Unit in the hospital is crucial for providing life-saving treatment and comprehensive care to patients with kidney failure and other renal conditions. It plays a vital role in managing chronic kidney disease, preventing complications and improving the quality of life for patients. By offering integrated care, skilled monitoring and access to emergency and critical care services, a dialysis unit is an indispensable part of the hospital, ensuring that patients receive the best possible outcomes in their treatment journey.