Page 11 - Seniors Today October 2020

Developmental And Congenital
Conditions
There are numerous developmental
anomalies of the kidney that the patient is
born with (congenital). Some of these are
genetically transmitted within families
while others are sporadic occurrences.
Some of these conditions will manifest
themselves with problems in early
childhood or adolescence, while yet others
may not manifest until middle age or later. Remember that Ayurvedic preparations often contain
heavy metals, which can damage the kidneys
Yet other anomalies of the kidney may
remain undetected through life or come to developmental obstruction of the junction
notice incidentally during investigations for of the ureter and the kidney (PUJO). Left
other complaints. untreated this will result in gradual but
irreversible kidney damage. Surgery for
Vesico-Ureteric Reflux & Pelviureteric repair of the defect is usually undertaken The kidneys manage the excretion of toxins from drugs and other socially acceptable poisons
Obstruction laparoscopically or robotically, with good of heavy metals (a word of warning; fluid is them let out with the impurities
These are two common developmental results. numerous Ayurvedic preparations contain thus filtered. The advantage is that it can
conditions that may cause affect the kidneys heavy metals) may also be responsible. be done in the convenience of the patient’s
in childhood or early adulthood. Adult Polycystic Kidneys Inflammatory conditions of the kidney, or home and does not tie him down to a
Normally the entry of the ureter into the This is a genetically inherited disease that glomerulonephritis may have varied causes machine.
bladder is guarded by a one-way valve that runs in families. The affected individual and many of them may lead to kidney In Renal transplantation a kidney is taken
permits urine to enter the bladder but does usually has no complaints until late failure. from a healthy volunteer and implanted
not allow urine in the bladder to flow back adulthood when he or she may develop The treatment options for a patient into the patient. The immediate results
towards the kidney. When this mechanism urinary infections, bleeding or renal failure. in this situation are dialysis or renal of this surgery are good in a majority of
is defective it result in VesicoUreteric Symptomatic and supportive treatment is transplantation. cases. The long term chances of having a
Reflux (VUR). The child gets frequent usually necessary until or unless kidney Dialysis may be done by passing the functional transplanted kidney after 15
urinary infections, with the potential of failure develops, when kidney dialysis or a patient’s blood through a machine where years is about 50%. Living donors, by a
kidney damage with each such episode. renal transplantation will be required. the blood is cleared of impurities and national law may only be blood relatives,
The usual treatment in milder cases is to excess water by passing it through a filter. or spouse. In exceptional cases permission
administer long-term antibiotics, until Renal Failure This is the more common form of dialysis may be granted for a more distant
such time as the reflux settles with growth When the kidneys have been damaged and is referred to as haemodialysis or blood relative. Receiving or offering a kidney
of the child. If reflux is of a severe degree irreversibly to such an extent that life dialysis. This involves the patient attending for financial considerations is a criminal
or if antibiotic regimes do not control the cannot be sustained, the patient is said to a nearby hospital (or a machine installed in offence punishable under law. Kidney for
infection, surgery for reimplantation of be in end-stage renal disease. The causes the patient’s home) 2 to 3 times a week. The transplantation may also retrieved from
the ureters into the bladder needs to be of this could be many and manifold. other form of dialysis is Peritoneal Dialysis, a deceased donor (who is irreversibly
resorted to. This can be done either by open Diabetes and high blood pressure are or tummy dialysis, which involves a brain dead) while the heart is still beating,
surgery or in a minimally invasive manner probably the most common causes. The instilling a solution in the abdominal cavity according to well-laid-out strict criteria.
with Laparoscopy or Robotic Assisted other causes may be repeated infections through a silicone catheter (permanently The kidneys are vital organs that we often
Laparoscopy. with or without obstruction (caused by installed for the purpose), keeping in take for granted. They will stand us in good
Another cause of repeated bouts of urinary stones or any other pathology). Poisons and there for a length of time to allow filtration stead, provided we take adequate preventive
infection and pain in the kidney would be toxins, such as analgesic abuse or ingestion through the lining of the abdomen. The care and do not abuse them.

10 SENIORS TODAY | ISSUE #16 | OCTOBER 2020 11