THE PATIENT WITH TERMINAL RENAL-FAILURE

Death caused by terminal renal failure is no longer observed. The death of the organ (kidneys) and the death of the patient has become dissociated. After renal death, the patient lives on with the help of one of the forms of renal replacement therapy, hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis or transplanted kidney. The survival od dialysed patients depends on the overall state of their health, age, psychological stability and the quality of the dialysis treatment itself. In spite of numerous deficiencies and even well-known acute and chronic complications, dialysis treatment may make it possible for patients to survive for 20 years and more. But dialysis treatment is complex from the medical, organizational and economic points of view.