D
diabetes (dy-uh-BEE-teez)
insipidus (in-SIP-ih-dus):
A condition characterized by
frequent and heavy urination, excessive thirst, and an
overall feeling of weakness. This condition may be
caused by a defect in the pituitary gland or in the
kidney. In diabetes insipidus, blood
glucose levels are normal. (See also nephrogenic
diabetes insipidus.)
diabetes (dy-uh-BEE-teez)
mellitus (MELL-ih-tus):
A condition characterized by
high blood glucose (sugar) resulting from the body's
inability to use glucose efficiently. In type 1
diabetes, the pancreas makes little or no insulin; in
type 2 diabetes, the body is resistant to the effects
of available insulin.
dialysis (dy-AL-ih-sis):
The process of cleaning wastes
from the blood artificially. This job is normally done
by the kidneys. If the kidneys fail, the
blood must be cleaned artificially with special
equipment. The two major forms of dialysis are
hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis.
- hemodialysis
(HEE-moh-dy-AL-ih-sis):
The use of a
machine to clean wastes from the blood after the
kidneys have failed. The blood travels
through tubes to a dialyzer, which
removes wastes and extra fluid. The cleaned blood
then flows through another set of tubes back into
the body.
- peritoneal
(PEH-rih-tuh-NEE-ul) dialysis:
Cleaning the blood by using the lining of
the belly (abdomen) as a filter. A cleansing
solution, called dialysis solution, is
drained from a bag into the belly. Fluids and wastes
flow through the lining of the belly and remain
"trapped" in the dialysis solution. The solution is
then drained from the belly, removing the extra
fluids and wastes from the body. There are three
types of peritoneal dialysis:
- continuous ambulatory
(AM-byoo-luh-TOH-ree) peritoneal dialysis
(CAPD): The most common type of peritoneal
dialysis. It needs no machine. With CAPD, the
blood is always being cleaned. The dialysis
solution passes from a plastic bag through
the catheter and into the abdomen. The dialysis
solution stays in the abdomen with the catheter
sealed. After several hours, the person using CAPD
drains the solution back into a disposable bag.
Then the person refills the abdomen with fresh
solution through the same catheter, to begin the
cleaning process again.
- continuous cycling
peritoneal dialysis (CCPD): A form of
peritoneal dialysis that uses a machine. This
machine automatically fills and drains the
dialysis solution from the abdomen.
A typical CCPD schedule involves three to five
exchanges during the night while the
person sleeps. During the day, the person using
CCPD performs one exchange with a dwell
time that lasts the entire day.
- nocturnal
(nok-TURN-ul) intermittent
(IN-ter-MIT-unt) peritoneal dialysis
(NIPD): A machine-aided form of peritoneal
dialysis. NIPD differs from CCPD in that six or
more exchanges take place during the
night, and the NIPD patient does not perform an
exchange during the day.
dialysis solution:
A cleansing liquid used in the
two major forms of dialysis—hemodialysis
and peritoneal dialysis. Dialysis solution contains
dextrose (a sugar) and other chemicals similar to
those in the body. Dextrose draws wastes and extra
fluid from the body into the dialysis solution.
dialyzer
(DY-uh-LY-zur):
A part of the hemodialysis
machine. (See hemodialysis under
dialysis.) The dialyzer has two sections
separated by a membrane. One section
holds dialysis solution. The other holds
the patient's blood.
dwell time:
In peritoneal
dialysis, the amount of time a bag of
dialysis solution remains in the
patient's abdominal cavity during an
exchange.
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E
edema
(eh-DEE-muh):
Swelling caused by too much
fluid in the body.
electrolytes
(ee-LEK-troh-lites):
Chemicals in the body fluids
that result from the breakdown of salts, including
sodium, potassium, magnesium, and chloride. The
kidneys control the amount of
electrolytes in the body. When the kidneys fail,
electrolytes get out of balance, causing potentially
serious health problems. Dialysis can
correct this problem.
end-stage renal
(REE-nul) disease (ESRD):
Total chronic kidney
failure. When the kidneys fail, the body
retains fluid and harmful wastes build up. A person
with ESRD needs treatment to replace the work of the
failed kidneys.
erythropoietin
(eh-RITH-roh-POY-uh-tin):
A hormone made by
the kidneys to help form red blood
cells. Lack of this hormone may lead to
anemia.
ESRD:
See end-stage renal
disease.
ESWL:
See extracorporeal
shockwave lithotripsy.
exchange:
A cycle in peritoneal
dialysis in which the patient fills the
abdominal cavity with dialysis solution,
carries it for a specified dwell time,
and then empties it from the abdomen in preparation
for a fresh bag of dialysis solution.
extracorporeal
(EKS-truh-kor-POR-ee-ul) shockwave lithotripsy
(LITH-oh-TRIP-see) (ESWL):
A nonsurgical procedure using
shock waves to break up kidney stones.
acute (uh-KYOOT):
Acute often means urgent. An
acute disease happens suddenly. It lasts a short time.
Acute is the opposite of chronic, or
long lasting.
