A robot at the operating table
Midwife, a dream job
My 50 years of dialysis
In battle against the coronavirus
An almost irreplaceable organ
Living life to the fullest with dialysis
Growing up with parenteral nutrition
Paul, the four-legged therapist
The History of Dialysis
Serving patients in Swaziland
"I want to help others, so they won’t give up"
From a local pharmacy to a global corporation
When the kidneys fail, the whole body suffers. As the organs’ ability to filter the blood begins to fail, an excessive amount of protein is often excreted through the urine. The body then lacks this protein. In addition, edemas (retained water) can form in the legs or lungs. In many cases, an insufficient amount of toxins is also removed. These then collect in the blood and can damage other organs. Problems in the digestive tract can appear and even lead to bleeding ulcers. The toxins can even disturb the rhythm of the heart or lead to infection in the pericardium (heart sac). Nervous system disorders have also been observed.
According to estimates, the number of people worldwide suffering from chronic kidney failure and requiring dialysis treatment is rising at a rate of around six percent each year. This is primarily due to a longer life span, which increases the chance of kidney disease. In addition, the treatment of kidney patients in many developing countries is improving. The constantly increasing rates of high blood pressure and diabetes – the main causes of chronic kidney failure – also play a role.
