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 injury occurs suddenly and may be the result of injury, infection, drugs or poisons. Kidneys may return to normal function if they are not too badly damaged. Chronic kidney disease means kidney function has slowly deteriorated over a number of years and often the kidneys do not get better. When chronic kidney disease progresses to end stage renal disease (ESRD), it is considered irreversible or unable to be cured. The most common cause of end stage kidney disease in New Zealand is diabetes. Dialysis Dialysis 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 kidney injury the dialysis may only be needed for a few days or weeks while the kidneys recover. In some cases long-term dialysis may be needed. Dialysis in the SDHB is based is a home based service with training undertaken at Dunedin Hospital. Kidney transplantation The best treatment for end stage kidney disease is a kidney transplant. Not all patients on dialysis are suitable for a kidney transplant but all patients on dialysis should be considered for a kidney transplant. Nephrology services in the SDHB belong to the South Island Renal Transplant Group. Transplant surgery usually takes place in Christchurch.

This term refers to stones in the urinary system. They form in the kidneys but can be found anywhere in the urinary system. Kidney stones are managed acutely by urologists. Some people with multiple kidney stones will be seen by Nephrology to investigate underlying cause and prevention.

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.