|
The
patient was admitted to the hospital by the patient's family
practice physician. In the meantime, he contacted a
nephrologist, an internal medicine physician specializing in
disorders of the kidney. In addition, a registered nurse with
special skills
in caring for
patients with renal disease was assigned to oversee the patient's
nursing care.
Initial care and
assessment consisted of:
1.
Stabilizing the patient's acid-base balance and
hypervolemic
state through
diuresis
(using diuretic
drugs).
2. Carefully monitoring the patient's
urine output and
renal clearance tests (i.e. creatinine clearance tests) that
measure the kidney's filtering capacity.
3. Assuring proper
nutrition, but restricting excessive protein intake.
21.
What are the effects of diuresis in treating a patient with
kidney disease?
22. Why is protein restricted in the
diet?
Instructor's
Note:
Since this patient's renal failure was determined early, a
relatively conservative approach to her care was indicated.
However, if the serum creatinine level had exceeded 8-10 mg/dl.,
prophylactic
renal
dialysis
would have been indicated. Stabilizing her hypervolemia through
controlled diuresis was the clinical approach of choice.
23.
What is renal dialysis?
24.
What are the 2 different options for a patient facing renal
dialysis? How do these 2 methods differ? List
advantages and disadvantages of each.
After
several days of treatment and monitoring vital indicators such as
urine output, blood creatinine levels, and urine clearance tests,
the patient was discharged from the hospital.
|
