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Dr Reshma Shettigar - Nephrologist

Private Service, Nephrology

Description

Dr Reshma Shettigar Is a renal physician (kidney specialist, nephrologist) in private practice at Christchurch Kidney Care.
Reshma's special clinical interests and expertise include:

  • assessment and management of adults with acute and chronic kidney disease
  • metabolic assessment and prevention of renal stones
  • renal metabolic disorders
  • diabetic kidney disease
  • hypertension
  • kidney transplants
  • nephrology insurance and immigration work.

Dr Shettigar offers the option of in-person or teleheath / Zoom consultations.

What is Renal Medicine?

Renal medicine, or nephrology, is the branch of medicine that involves the diagnosis and management of people with diseases and conditions of the kidneys.
Your kidneys are two bean-shaped organs, found at the back of your abdominal cavity, that filter out wastes and excess fluid from your blood and excrete them as urine.
Renal medicine includes the urgent care of acutely ill patients as well as those with chronic illness who require long term care. A doctor who specialises in disorders of the kidneys is called a nephrologist. Conditions seen by a nephrologist may include:

• Acute renal failure – the sudden loss of kidney function
• Chronic, or long term, renal failure – gradual worsening of kidney function
• Haematuria – blood loss in the urine
• Proteinuria – protein loss in the urine
• Kidney stones
• Chronic or frequent urinary tract infections
• Hypertension – that has not responded to antihypertensive therapy.

Many kidney disorders may be treated with medications but if kidney function starts to fail and the condition becomes severe, dialysis (using a machine to filter the blood) and later, kidney transplantation, may be required.

Consultants

Ages

Adult / Pakeke, Older adult / Kaumātua, Youth / Rangatahi

How do I access this service?

Referral

ERMS to Christchurch Heart Group or email referrals to

Referral Expectations

Dr Shettigar offers the options of in-person or telehealth / Zoom consultations

Fees and Charges Categorisation

Fees apply

Languages Spoken

English

Common Conditions

Kidney Failure

This is when a patient’s kidneys are unable to remove wastes and excess fluid from the blood. Kidney failure is divided into two general categories, acute and chronic. Acute kidney failure occurs suddenly and may be the result of injury, loss of large amounts of blood, drugs or poisons. Kidneys may return to normal function if they are not too badly damaged. Chronic renal failure means kidney function has slowly worsened over a number of years and often the kidneys do not get better. When chronic renal failure has progressed to end stage renal disease (ESRD), it is considered irreversible or unable to be cured. Renal Replacement Therapy Renal replacement therapy is a treatment that removes wastes and excess fluid from the blood when patients’ kidneys are not able to do it on their own. It comes in a number of forms, both continuous and intermittent, involving filtration and dialysis. In acute renal failure, the dialysis may only be needed for a few days or weeks while the kidneys recover. In some cases long-term dialysis and or a kidney transplant may be needed.

This is when a patient’s kidneys are unable to remove wastes and excess fluid from the blood. Kidney failure is divided into two general categories, acute and chronic.

Acute kidney failure occurs suddenly and may be the result of injury, loss of large amounts of blood, drugs or poisons. Kidneys may return to normal function if they are not too badly damaged.

Chronic renal failure means kidney function has slowly worsened over a number of years and often the kidneys do not get better. When chronic renal failure has progressed to end stage renal disease (ESRD), it is considered irreversible or unable to be cured.


Renal Replacement Therapy
Renal replacement therapy is a treatment that removes wastes and excess fluid from the blood when patients’ kidneys are not able to do it on their own. It comes in a number of forms, both continuous and intermittent, involving filtration and dialysis. In acute renal failure, the dialysis may only be needed for a few days or weeks while the kidneys recover. In some cases long-term dialysis and or a kidney transplant may be needed.

Kidney Stones

This term refers to stones in the urinary system. They form in the kidneys but can be found anywhere in the urinary system. They vary in size and the amount of pain they cause. Many of these stones can pass through without help but some require medical intervention. Extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL) is the most frequently used procedure for the treatment of kidney stones. In ESWL, shock waves that are created outside the body travel through the skin and body tissues until they hit the denser stones. The stones break down into very small particles and are easily passed through the urinary tract in the urine.

This term refers to stones in the urinary system. They form in the kidneys but can be found anywhere in the urinary system. They vary in size and the amount of pain they cause. Many of these stones can pass through without help but some require medical intervention.


Extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL) is the most frequently used procedure for the treatment of kidney stones. In ESWL, shock waves that are created outside the body travel through the skin and body tissues until they hit the denser stones. The stones break down into very small particles and are easily passed through the urinary tract in the urine.

Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)

A UTI is caused by an infection in the urinary tract. Women get UTIs more often than men. UTIs are treated with antibiotics. Drinking lots of water also helps by flushing out the bacteria. If the infection is in the kidneys it is called pyelonephritis.

A UTI is caused by an infection in the urinary tract. Women get UTIs more often than men. UTIs are treated with antibiotics. Drinking lots of water also helps by flushing out the bacteria.
If the infection is in the kidneys it is called pyelonephritis.

Contact Details

Urgent appointments are available

Referrals: ERMS to CHristchurch Heart Group or email to reshmas@christchurchkidneycare.com

Level 1, Milford Chambers, 249 Papanui Road
Merivale
Christchurch
Canterbury 8140

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Street Address

Level 1, Milford Chambers, 249 Papanui Road
Merivale
Christchurch
Canterbury 8140

Postal Address

Private Bag 4737
Christchurch 8140

This page was last updated at 10:21AM on July 8, 2024. This information is reviewed and edited by Dr Reshma Shettigar - Nephrologist.