A fistula gives access to your bloodstream for hemodialysis. It is made by joining an artery and a vein during surgery. This pamphlet explains the surgery for having an arteriovenous fistula created in your forearm. Topics include: when is my fistula ready to use, after surgery, exercising, and how to care for your fistula. This pamphlet explains what to do if you have bleeding at the site, and a list of symptoms that need medical attention right away.
Dalteparin is a medication that is part of a group of drugs called blood thinners. Fragmin® is the brand name of dalteparin. During hemodialysis your blood passes through the dialysis blood lines and a dialyzer (artificial kidney), which can cause clots to form. Dalteparin stops clots from forming. This pamphlet explains how to take dalteparin, possible side effects, and symptoms that you should mention to your nurse.
Si votre corps manque d’oxygène en raison d’une carence en fer, il se peut que vous soyez fatigué ou essoufflé. On appelle cela l’anémie ferriprive. Beaucoup de patients atteints d’insuffisance rénale chronique (IRC) ou dialysés souffrent d’anémie, car ils n’ont pas assez de globules rouges, et le corps a besoin de fer pour les fabriquer. Prendre du fer par injection permet donc au corps d’avoir suffisamment de fer pour fabriquer de l’hémoglobine, c’est-à-dire la protéine qui transporte l’oxygè…
This pamphlet explains how heparin can help a person with kidney disease who is on hemodialysis. This medicine helps people with kidney disease by preventing blood from clotting in the dialysis lines during hemodialysis. How to take the medicine and what side effects to watch for are reviewed.
If your body is not getting enough oxygen due to lack of iron, you may feel tired or short of breath. This is called iron deficiency anemia. Many patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), or who are on dialysis, have anemia because their red blood cells are low. The body needs iron to help make new red blood cells. Getting iron injections can help make sure that you have enough iron in your body to make the oxygen-carrying part (hemoglobin) of your red blood cells. This pamphlet explains how …
Lanthanum (LAN-tha-num) is a medicine used to treat high levels of phosphorus (a mineral that builds strong bones and teeth) in the body. Lanthanum binds (attaches) to the phosphorus in the foods you eat and stops your body from taking it in. People with kidney disease are less able to remove phosphorus from the body. When phosphorus levels in the blood get too high, it pushes calcium out from your bones. This makes them weaker. Hemodialysis can remove some of the extra phosphorus, but medicin…
A non-tunneled hemodialysis catheter is a special tube made of plastic. It is used for hemodialyis treatment. This pamphlet explains the procedure for having a non-tunneled hemodialysis cathether inserted. Topics include: why the catheter is used, how long it can stay in place, how it is inserted, what will happen after the procedure, and how to care for your catheter at home. The pamphlet also explains what to do if the catheter falls out.
One-Alpha® is a medicine that contains the active ingredient alfacalcidol, which is a form of vitamin D. The liver changes alfacalcidol to calcitriol, which is a form of vitamin D that can be used by the body. It acts as a hormone in your body to control the levels of calcium and phosphate, which are needed to build healthy bone. People with kidney disease cannot change enough vitamin D into calcitriol. We get vitamin D from sunlight, and from eating oily fish and milk products. This can cause …
Rocaltrol® is a medicine that contains the active ingredient calcitriol, which is a form of vitamin D that can be used by the body. It acts as a hormone in your body to control the levels of calcium and phosphate, which are needed to build healthy bone. People with kidney disease cannot change enough vitamin D into calcitriol. We get vitamin D from sunlight, and from eating oily fish and milk products. This can cause low levels of calcium in the blood and bone problems. This medicine skips the …
Sevelamer (se-VEL-a-mer) is a medicine used to treat high levels of phosphorus (a mineral that builds strong bones and teeth) in the body. People with kidney disease are less able to remove phosphorus from their body. When phosphorus levels in the blood get too high, it pushes calcium out from your bones. Hemodialysis can remove some of the extra phosphorus, but medicines such as sevelamer are often needed to help remove more. How to take sevelamer and what side effects to watch for are reviewe…
A tunneled hemodialysis catheter is a special tube made of plastic. It is used for hemodialysis treatment. This pamphlet explains the procedure for having a tunneled hemodialysis catheter inserted. Topics include: why the catheter is used, how long it will be in place, where the procedure is done, how long you will be at the hospital, how to get ready, and how the catheter is inserted. Instructions for after your procedure and care at home are provided.