To complement our services for the critically ill in the home we also provide specialist nurses to assist with home dialysis. Home dialysis may be in the form of peritoneal dialysis (PD) or haemodyalysis, both of which support failing kidneys.
Often a patient’s stay in an intensive care unit (ICU) can result in kidney (or renal failure) needing haemofiltration or hemodialysis. This means that the kidneys have been injured so badly that they cannot function properly without a ‘kidney machine’ (heamodialysis, or haemofiltration). This can be temporary or develop into a life long challenge.
A stay in ICU can induce acute kidney injury, or exacerbate chronic kidney injury for various reasons. These reasons can include low blood pressure underperfusing the kidneys leading to kidney/renal failure, or side effects of medications used in the intensive care which can exacerbate chronic kidney injury or induce acute kidney injury or failure. Some investigative procedures that are are performed while in intensive care can further damage already stressed kidneys.
Many patients in ICU need ventilation through a tracheostomy for breathing issues as well as heamodialysis or heamofiltration for damaged kidneys.
If a patient can’t be weaned from the ventilator and have a tracheostomy as well as undergoing haemodialysis, they can be subjected to a very prolonged stay in an ICU.
We are able to facilitate home tracheostomy care with or without mechanical ventilation as well as home dialysis so that more long-term ICU patients can improve their quality of life by living at home instead of spending more time in an ICU.
Imagine living back at home, away from the noise and instituitonal environment of a hospital ward, in your own bedroom and lounge room. We can help you and your family with the transition to home as well as continuing the support while at home.
As an added benefit, this would help intensive care units to empty their “in-demand” and expensive intensive care beds, freeing up their bed capacity for other more acutely unwell ICU patients.
We can also help if you need only home dialysis (PD or haemodialysis) without a tracheostomy and home ventilation.