Choosing a treatment that,s right for you

i

Kidney Failure

CHOOSING A

T R E ATMENT THAT ’ S

R I G H T F O R YO U

National Institutes of Health

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Kidney Failure

CHOOSING A

T R E ATMENT THAT ’ S

R I G H T F O R YO U

C o n t e n t s

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

When Your Kidneys Fail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Treatment Choice: Hemodialysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Treatment Choice: Peritoneal Dialysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Treatment Choice: Kidney Transplantation . . . . . . . . . . . 1 5

Treatment Choice: Refusing or Withdrawing

From Treatment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 2

Paying for Treatment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 4

Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 4

Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 5

Acknowledgments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 9