The Dialysis Branch of a Transplantation Unit

Abstract

Active treatment of chronic uremia in a program in which renal transplantation is the ultimate treatment for uremia has caused a substantial increase in the need for dialysis in spite of a continuous increase in the dialysing capacity. Active treatment of chronic uremia with dialysis and transplantation is needed in about 70% of all uremic patients aged 16–65 years but only 40% actually received this treatment between 1966 and 1968. This latent need for active treatment necessitates an increasing dialysing capacity. For economic reasons, there is an acute need for home dialysis, especially in sparsely populated areas, as well as for dialysis at night in centers outside the hospital in order to reduce psychiatric, family and social complications. The complications of hemodialysis, the physical and psychical strain of the patient together with the risk of developing an unfavourable immunity with respect to a coming renal transplantation makes an increased effort towards prophylactic treatment of renal diseases necessary. This also means increased efforts to transplant the uremic patient in a preterminal state which at present occurs in only about 20% of all kidney recipients.