Kidney Failure

Kidney failure, also called renal failure, occurs when the kidneys stop functioning and are unable to effectively remove waste from your blood. This can cause waste products to build up, which is life-threatening without treatment.

Kidney failure can be acute — happening suddenly due to an injury or a urinary tract obstruction, for example. More often, kidney failure is a result of chronic kidney disease, which develops over time as damage to your kidneys accumulates. Chronic kidney disease is classified into five stages from mild to severe, with kidney failure occurring in stage 5.

The most common causes of chronic kidney disease and kidney failure are diabetes and high blood pressure. Regardless of the cause, we work closely with you to help preserve your kidney function and support good quality of life.

People with early-stage kidney disease may not experience symptoms. As the disease progresses and a person approaches kidney failure, symptoms may include:

• Fatigue
• Swelling in the limbs or face
• Nausea and vomiting
• Changes in urination, such as increases in frequency or decreases in urine output
• Muscle spasms or cramps
• Dry skin and itchiness
• Shortness of breath and chest pain
• Lack of appetite or changes in taste, such as reduced ability to taste
• Changes in cognition (thinking) such as confusion

While anyone can develop chronic kidney disease, a person’s risk increases with age. It is most common in those 65 and older. Other risk factors for chronic kidney disease, which can lead to kidney failure, include:

• A family history of kidney disease or kidney failure
• Heart disease
• Diabetes
• High blood pressure

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that as many as nine out of 10 adults with chronic kidney disease are unaware they have it. That’s why it’s important to receive routine health screenings and talk to your primary care provider about how you can maintain the health of your kidneys.

Your care team may use a variety of tests to diagnose kidney failure. Those tests may include:

• Urinalysis (urine test)
• Bloodwork
• Imaging tests such as ultrasounds, MRIs or CT scans
• Kidney biopsy

Treatment for kidney failure depends on the underlying cause. Treatment options at MultiCare may include:

• Dialysis. This treatment filters waste from your blood, performing the function of your kidneys when they can’t. Patients typically receive dialysis treatment in an outpatient clinic or at home. Those with acute kidney failure may only need to receive dialysis on a temporary basis while the kidneys heal. For those with kidney failure due to chronic kidney disease, dialysis is lifelong or until a person receives a kidney transplant.
• Kidney transplant support. A kidney transplant may be an option for some patients with kidney failure. While MultiCare does not perform kidney transplant surgery, we do conduct pretransplant evaluations in collaboration with transplant centers. These evaluations help determine your eligibility for a transplant, verify your health status and support the transplant team in finding a suitable match for a donor kidney.
• Medications and lifestyle changes. These approaches may be used to slow the progression of chronic kidney disease and treat complications such as swelling and anemia from kidney failure.