During the past 4O years there have been major conceptual and technical advances in the domain of dialysis methods and renal/organ transplantation for long-term treatment of patients with End-Stage Renal Failure (ESRF). This now enables better defined, more selective strategies of treatment to be undertaken, according to patient-specific criteria such as age or underlying renal disease also taking into account the lifetime duration of these treatments. For many patients this implies necessary successive changes of mode of therapy depending on their availability, occurrence of medical/technical complications or failure and social-environmental and economic factors. This rationale has inspired the structure of this volume which is divided into four sections: 1/ A descriptive overview of the various modes of renal replacement therapy (RRT): Extracorporeal dialysis/filtration, peritoneal dialysis, kidney and multi-organ transplantation.2/ Most appropriate indications and use of these methods, respective advantages, drawbacks and outcome in children, pregnant women and elderly patients 3/ In diabetic patients and in patients with hereditary/congenital diseases. 4/ The ethical issues generated by this new domain in Medicine by limitations in treatment facilities or medical dilemmas for acceptance, best technical choices, withdrawal or termination of RRT in individual patients. Finally, contributors form Eastern European Countries, Africa and Far Eastern Countries analyse the current status of RRT in their respective geographical area and the ways and means required for a wider implementation of RRT in thus far lesser economically developed countries where the great majority of the populations still have no access to these life-saving therapeutic procedures.

Palliative care has become increasingly important across the spectrum of healthcare, and with it, the need for education and training of a broad range of medical practitioners not previously associated with this field of care. As part of the Integrating Palliative Care series, this volume on palliative care in nephrology guides readers through the core palliative knowledge and skills needed to deliver high value, high quality care for seriously ill patients with chronic and end-stage kidney disease. Chapters are written by a team of international leaders in kidney palliative care and are organized into sections exploring unmet supportive care needs, palliative care capacity, patient-centered care, enhanced support at the end of life, and more. Chapter topics are based on the Coalition for Supportive Care of Kidney Patients Pathways Project change package of 14 evidence-based best practices to improve the delivery of palliative care to patients with kidney disease. An overview of the future of palliative care nephrology with attention to needed policy changes rounds out the text. Palliative Care in Nephrology is an ideal resource for nephrologists, nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, social workers, primary care clinicians, and other practitioners who wish to learn more about integrating individualized, patient-centered palliative care into treatment of their patients with kidney disease.

First edition edited by Janel Parker in 1998

A guide to understanding the principles and practice of dialysis which considers the theoretical and practical aspects of haemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis therapy and takes into account the surge in implementation of high-flux dialysis.

Supportive Care for the Renal Patient Second Edition provides a comprehensive, evidence-based overview of supportive care for the nephrology patient. An international group of contributors emphasise the continuum of palliative care from the time of diagnosis through to end-of-life care and the issues surrounding withdrawal of dialysis. The book addresses the psychological impact of the disease, the importance of involving the patient in making decisions about their care, ethical considerations, the role of the family and the multidisciplinary team. This new edition includes two new chapters on conservative management of advanced kidney disease (AKD) and dialysis in the very elderly. The chapters covering non pain symptoms, advance care planning, quality of life, psychological and psychiatric consideration and end-of-life care have also be completely revised to include new evidence and current thinking. This book will be of particular interest to palliative care practitioners; nephrologists, who increasingly need to know more about palliative care; nurse practitioners, dialysis nurses, social workers, dieticians, and psychiatric consultants. ABOUT THE SUPPORTIVE CARE SERIES Supportive care is the multidisciplinary holistic care of patients with chronic and life-limiting illnesses and their families - from the time around diagnosis, through treatments aimed at cure or prolonging life, and into the phase currently acknowledged as palliative care. It involves recognising and caring for the side-effects of active therapies as well as patients' symptoms, co-morbidities, psychological, social and spiritual concerns. It also values the role of family carers and helps them in supporting the patient, as well as attending to their own special needs. Unlike traditional palliative care, which grew from the terminal care of cancer patients, supportive care is not restricted to dying patients nor to cancer. This series covers the support of patients with a variety of long-term conditions, who are currently largely managed by specialist medical teams in hospital and by primary care teams in community settings. Each volume therefore provides a practical guide to the supportive care of patients at all stages of illness. Series Editor: Sam H. Ahmedzai