Type of Surgery
Information
Last updated: 11/24/2009
Diagnosis
The diagnosis of kidney disease and its progression to kidney failure is typically made by a nephrologist, a specialist in kidney structure and function. The nephrologist will determine whether the patient has acute or chronic...
kidney failure and if dialysis is appropriate for the patient. If dialysis is recommended, the nephrologist will determine if an AV fistula is the ideal vascular access for the patient. To make these determinations, the nephrologist will need to be aware of the patient's general condition, especially the presence of any underlying disease. Kidney function must be evaluated and determined to be seriously impaired before dialysis is recommended. It is typically started when kidney function is down to about 10% of its normal level. Among other tests that will be performed, such as urinalysis with microscopic examination of the urine, several blood and urine tests can be used to measure a person's kidney function when chronic or acute kidney failure is suspected. Some of the tests measure chemicals produced by the body that are normally excreted (passed in urine) by the kidneys; the tests can measure how much is passing through, and how much remains in the blood, and then determine how well the kidneys are functioning compared to normal. These tests include, but are not limited to:
- Serum creatinine, found in higher levels in the blood if kidneys fail.
- Urinary creatinine, lower in kidney failure.
- Urinary output, measuring both fluid intake and all urine produced.
- Urinary osmolality, measuring the concentration of the urine, an indicator of kidney filtering ability.
- Blood urea nitrogen (BUN), harmful nitrogen waste that increases in the blood as kidney function decreases.
- Electrolytes in blood and urine, minerals that result from the breakdown of salts (sodium, potassium, magnesium, and chloride), often out of balance when kidneys fail. Potassium, for example, increases in the blood during kidney failure and can cause heart irregularities.
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This narrated 3D animation shows how a glaucoma surgery is performed, specifically a trabeculectomy. While the video is incredibly detailed and thorough, it does contain anatomical, surgical, and medical terms throughout. Glaucoma is a disease in which too much fluid and, by extension, pressure builds up inside the eye. A trabeculectomy is one type of glaucoma surgery that improves fluid outflow from the eye and reduces intraocular (inside the eye) pressure.
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Other Information
An arteriovenous fistula is an abnormal connection or passageway between an artery and a vein. It may be congenital, surgically created for hemodialysis treatments, or acquired due to pathologic process, such as trauma or erosion of an arterial aneurysm.
Other Information
In 2005, an estimated 6,989,000 inpatient cardiovascular operations and procedures were performed in the United States; 4.1 million were performed on males and 2.9 million were performed on females.
From: American Heart Association
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