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TREATMENT OF END–STAGE RENAL FAILURE BY INTEGRATED DIALYSIS AND TRANSPLANTATION
Author(s) -
Mathew Timothy H.
Publication year - 1974
Publication title -
medical journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1326-5377
pISSN - 0025-729X
DOI - 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1974.tb70937.x
Subject(s) - dialysis , medicine , transplantation , end stage renal failure , cadaveric spasm , intensive care medicine , kidney transplantation , stage (stratigraphy) , end stage renal disease , hemodialysis , surgery , paleontology , biology
An integrated approach to the treatment of end‐stage renal failure utilizing both dialysis and transplantation as “joint” or sequential therapies is described. The current state and results of dialysis and transplantation are reviewed. The risk of transplantation can be minimized by careful patient preparation and a policy of early removal of a failing graft. It is preferable to carry out dialysis in the home whenever possible, if the anticipated period on dialysis exceeds six months. Despite liberal patient selection criteria, an 80% two‐year patient survival rate has been achieved using this integrated approach. Seventy‐five per cent of surviving patients have a functioning transplant. The policy of making cadaveric transplantation the primary goal for all patients (unless medically contraindicated) has proved justified, and should be retained if excessive demand on available resources is to be avoided, and if Australia is to continue to cope adequately with the load of patients presenting with end‐stage renal failure.