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NEED FOR DIALYSIS
When patients have mild kidney failure (serum Creatinine is less than 400 umol/L), they do not require renal replacement therapy such as dialysis or renal transplant because they still have sufficient residual renal function to sustain life. However, they require certain medications, such as phosphate binders, and need to restrict fluid, salt, and protein intake to reduce the risk of further damage to the kidney. When the serum Creatinine rises to 900 umol/ L, it is considered severe renal failure and they require dialysis or a kidney transplant. Additionally, it is customary to consider dialysis in any patient who 1) is symptomatic from uremia, 2) has a complication of renal failure that is unlikely to resolve by conservative treatment, 3) has a complication that is associated with a definite risk to the patient, or 4) is suffering from an end-stage renal disease (ESRD).
