Treatments For Anuria
The kidneys are an often overlooked organ of the body, but they have a very important role in filtering waste products out of the bloodstream. Individuals who have some sort of kidney ailment can end up suffering from anuria, which occurs when the kidneys stop producing urine altogether. It can be caused by a wide variety of issues, ranging from kidney disease to diabetes. Without the ability to urinate, both excess fluid and waste products begin to build up in the body. If left untreated, anuria can be life-threatening. Fortunately, there are several treatment methods available for patients suffering from anuria.
Kidney Dialysis
Kidney dialysis is often one of the first treatment methods doctors suggest when a patient is dealing with anuria. Dialysis involves patients being hooked up to a machine that filters their blood for them. It generally takes a few hours to get the treatment, and most individuals need dialysis about three times per week to remain healthy. Depending on the patient's location and medical needs, they may be able to get dialysis done from the comfort of their home, or they may need to visit a facility with dialysis machines.
In most cases of anuria, the hope is doctors can treat the underlying cause of the anuria while dialysis prevents the patient from developing complications. The dialysis helps get the blood filtered while a patient balances their blood sugar or seeks treatment for a kidney tumor. It is rare for kidney dialysis to be a permanent solution to anuria, but in some cases where individuals have chronic kidney disease, dialysis may be the only available treatment.
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Ureteral Stents
Ureteral stents are tiny tubes made of plastic or metal inserted into a blocked passageway to reopen it. They are a common treatment for anuria caused by kidney stones. In the ureteral stent process, patients are put under anesthesia, and then a doctor places a stent of about ten inches in length inside the ureter, which is the tube running from the kidney to the bladder. This allows urine to flow freely through the stent, so the body can start disposing of excess waste and fluid.
In some cases, such as a ureter blocked by a tumor putting pressure on it, the ureteral stent may be permanent, though these tubes need to be changed every four months. However, it is sometimes just a temporary treatment used to help the kidney drain while the swelling goes down. Patients who have a stent can expect to feel like they need to go to the bathroom every few minutes, and occasionally, they may experience pink-tinged urine, bladder cramps, or burning sensation while urinating.
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Surgery
Surgery is typically used as a treatment option for managing the underlying cause of anuria. It is most commonly recommended for individuals with either kidney stones or a tumor blocking the urine from exiting the kidneys. Surgery for patients with kidney stones normally involves a doctor passing a scope up the urethra or making a small incision so they can reach the stone and break it into smaller pieces that are easy to pass. Surgical treatments for tumors are a little more involved and typically require the doctor to make a slightly larger incision, cut out the tumor, close off any blood vessels linked to the tumor, and suture up the incision. Recovery times may vary depending on what sort of surgical process is performed. Some individuals may be able to leave the hospital in a few days while others may be bed bound for a couple of weeks.
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Kidney Transplant
Unfortunately, it is not always possible to treat the underlying cause of anuria. In this case, the only long term solution may be a kidney transplant. A kidney donor is normally easier to find than other types of organ donors because individuals do not need both of their kidneys. Thus, patients may be able to find someone who is willing to give them one of their kidneys, though they may also have to wait for one from a deceased donor to become available. Once a matching kidney is found, patients will have a surgical procedure where the new kidney is placed in their body and connected to their blood vessels and bladder. Following the kidney transplant, patients will need to remain in the hospital for several days. It may take up to a week for the new kidney to begin producing urine again. Once the patient has recovered, they will need to continue to take anti-rejection medications for the rest of their life to keep their body from rejecting the donor kidney.
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Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy is a useful treatment for anuria in patients who have a tumor. It can be used for treating both benign and malignant tumors putting pressure on the kidneys and keeping them from properly releasing urine. The radiation therapy process is not invasive like surgeries. Instead, the doctor will direct beams of radiation at the area from outside the patient's body. The radiation therapy itself is very short, but it will have some side effects that linger for a while. Patients may feel nauseous, fatigued, and have skin problems wherever the radiation beam was directed. However, it is very effective because the radiation can kill off cells in the tumor and make it shrink. This turns larger tumors into a more manageable size that can either be removed during a surgical treatment or just left to sit out of the way of the kidneys.