•     Applications now accepted for IDCCM admission - https://www.isccm.org/College/IDCCM      |
  •    As per GOI Notification No. 03/2022 - Central Tax (Rate), GST of 5% is applicable* on all room charges exceeding Rs. 5000 per day (with the exception of ICU), for receiving treatment within our hospitals. (*On all discharges starting 18th July, 2022)     
24*7 Hospital Helpline +91 20-61930000
+91 20-35087900
24*7 Ambulance Service +91 9552525652

Nephrology

About the Department

At Symbiosis University Hospital, we have a world class Nephrology Department with advanced facilities and an experienced team of doctors, nurses and technicians that are available 24x7 for any nephrology emergency. We have eight haemodialysis machines, including an isolation room for infected and Hepatitis B positive patients, and one dedicated machine for ICU patients. Each haemodialysis bed is equipped with a non-invasive blood pressure monitor. We have an auto- mated dialyzer-reprocessing machine for better cleaning and life of the dialyzer. Considering the need for strict aseptic precautions, there is a separate room for peritoneal dialysis patients. At Symbiosis University Hospital, we are committed to provide the finest evidence based management to all our nephrology patients. Our patient guide will help you better understand the nature of kidney functioning, common kidney diseases and diagnosis as well as treatments.

Highlights

Services Offered

  • Acute and chronic kidney disease
  • Reno vascular disease (diseases of kidney blood vessels)
  • Hypertensive disorders (related to high blood pressure)
  • Glomerular disease (disorders that damage the kidneys' blood filtering units)
  • Immunologic kidney disease (such as vasculitis)
  • Complex tubular and electrolyte disorders
  • Kidney stones (including metabolic evaluation to help prevent future stone formation)
  • Acid-base disorders
  • Acute and chronic dialysis
  • Kidney care for children and pregnant women
  • Kidney transplantation
  • Polycystic kidney disease care and counselling
  • Dialysis access care (AV fistula, tunnelled catheter, AV graft, fistula repair)
  • Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy

A Guide to Kidney Diseases

Nephrology is concerned with medical diseases of the kidney, as also with kidney transplantation. More than one lakh fresh cases have kidney failure (stage 5 chronic kidney disease) every year in India and require dialysis and/or kidney transplantation. It is important to know your risks and take action.

Most people have two kidneys. They are located at the back of your body below your ribs. The kidneys make urine which passes through your ureters to your bladder.

The functions of the kidneys include:

Filtering your blood to make urine, enabling your body to get rid of waste and water it doesn't need, also regulating the salts and minerals in your blood

  • Controlling your blood pressure
  • Keeping your bones healthy
  • Making new red blood cells. If your kidneys are not working properly, some or all of these functions may be affected.

Most types of kidney disease become progressive or worsen over time. However, it is possible to slow the progression of some types of kidney disease with good healthcare management. Close and continuous follow-up with your primary care physician and nephrologist is very important.

  • If you have diabetes, careful control of your blood sugar is very important. Evidence consistently shows that careful control of your blood sugar in insulin-dependent diabetes can slow the progression of kidney disease.
  • Your physician and dietician can help you control your blood sugar through diet, exercise, and medication.
  • Hypertension is often a silent disease without noticeable symptoms. Controlling high blood pressure with diet, exercise and medications can help to slow the progress of kidney disease. Careful follow-up with your healthcare team to control high blood pressure is very important. A blood pressure of 120/80 mmHg or less is best.

When your kidneys fail or stop working, dialysis is needed to maintain life. Dialysis is a form of kidney replacement therapy to remove waste products from the blood and regulate fluids. There are two kinds of dialysis:

  • Haemodialysis: Involves cleaning or filtering the blood through an artificial kidney machine. This procedure is performed by nurses and technicians in a dialysis centre several times a week.
  • Peritoneal Dialysis: Involves a solution flowing from a bad through a special tube into the abdominal cavity. Waste products and extra fluid from the blood are removed through this tube. The home peritoneal dialysis self-dialysis patient is trained, supported, and continuously followed by peritoneal dialysis nursing staff members.

Common Kidney Diseases

1. Chronic Kidney Disease:

"Kidney disease" can refer to many kinds of diseases. A common kidney disease in India is chronic kidney disease (also called CKD). CKD is the permanent loss of some kidney function. Many different diseases (diabetes, high blood pressure, some infections, etc.) or a physical injury can cause CKD.

2. Acute Kidney Injury (AKI):

This is a sudden occurrence of kidney failure or kidney damage that happens within a few hours or days. Acute Kidney Injury can have many different causes but is commonly caused by sepsis, shock, dehydration or certain medications.

3. Kidney Stone/Obstructive Nephropathy:

A solid piece of material that forms in the kidney from substances in the urine. Stones can be very painful and can sometimes block your urine flow. They can cause blood in your urine. Although stones are common, they rarely cause permanent kidney damage.

4.Polycystic Kidney Disease/Inherited Kidney Diseases (PKD):

A genetic disorder where numerous cysts grow in the kidneys. PKD cysts can slowly replace much of the mass of the kidneys and can lead to kidney failure.

5. Kidney Infections:

Also called Pyelonephritis. Kidney infections are usually caused due to bacteria, which spread from the bladder.

6. Nephrotic/Nephritic Syndrome:

This condition is not in itself a disease but can be the first sign of another disease that damages the kidneys. Signs include low or high blood protein and/ or blood in the urine and swelling.

RISK OF KIDNEY DISEASES

Anyone can develop kidney problems, but you are at a higher risk if you have or are any of the following:

  • Diabetes
  • High blood pressure
  • Family member with kidney disease
  • Are African, American or Asian
  • 60+ years of age
  • Overweight or obese

SYMPTOMS OF KIDNEY DISEASES

Most kidney problems have no symptoms until the disease has progressed far. Your best protection is to know if you are at risk and need to be tested.

Some symptoms can include:

  • Loss of appetite
  • A tired or dizzy feeling
  • Swelling on your feet or face
  • Back pain
  • Bloody, foamy or dark-coloured urine
  • Unexplained high blood pressure
  • A change in how often you urinate (more or less often)

Preventing Kidney Diseases

Diabetes and high blood pressure are the two leading causes of kidney failure. It is important that your blood glucose (sugar) and blood pressure are checked often and treated correctly.

Other healthy behaviours:

  • Control high blood pressure
  • Control diabetes
  • Eat healthy meals
  • Lose weight if you are overweight
  • Eat healthy meals
  • Treatments and diagnosis available at Symbiosis University Hospital.
  • Avoid smoking
  • Know your goals for important tests, like blood pressure and blood glucose (sugar)
  • Drink alcohol only in moderation
  • Exercise regularly
  • Follow your doctor's instructions and take medicines as prescribed.

Treatments and Diagnosis available at Symbiosis University Hospital & Research Centre

DIAGNOSIS:

At SUHRC we can diagnose and treat kidney diseases. Many kidney diseases show no symptoms. Tests mentioned below can help detect if you have kidney disease.

Serum Creatinine :
The result of this test is used to estimate GFR and assess how well the kidneys are working.

Urine test :
A urine test helps find out the presence and quantity of protein in the urine.

Other investigations :
May include but are not limited to imaging (USG/CT Scan)

Kidney biopsy :
A procedure in which a piece of kidney tissue is taken for examination under microscope. A pathologist in the laboratory examines the kidney tissue sample and checks for the signs of kidney diseases and infection. Kidney diseases can sometimes lead to kidney failure (also called End-Stage Renal Disease). There is no cure for kidney failure. A person with kidney failure needs to have one of these treatments to live:

Haemodialysis:

  • A way of cleaning wastes and extra fluid from the blood artificially.
  • The person's blood is pumped out of the body through an artificial kidney machine for cleansing and then reintroduced into the body.
  • Usually, haemodialysis treatments are needed three or four times a week, and each treatment lasts around four hours.

Haemodialysis patients must follow a restricted diet and must take a variety of medicines and vitamin supplements. At Symbiosis University Hospital, we are fully equipped with eight haemodialysis machines. Our dialysis machines provide completely safe dialysis with its detectors, which enables continuous monitoring of various parameters during dialysis.

Peritoneal Dialysis (PD)

  • A second way of cleaning wastes and extra fluid from the blood artificially. A permanent, soft tube called a catheter is used to fill the abdomen with a cleansing liquid called dialysis solution.
  • The walls of the abdominal cavity are lined with a membrane called the peritoneum. The peritoneum lets wastes and extra fluid pass from your blood into the dialysis solution.
  • Wastes and fluids then leave your body when the dialysis solution is drained. This is called an 'exchange". These "exchanges" happen several times a day.
  • PD patients also have diet restrictions. Our Nephrology team, which includes experienced doctors, nurses, and technicians are available 24x7 for any nephrology emergency.
  • The Nephrology Department is also supported by a 25 bedded ICU with a full time intensivist team.

Our Doctors

Dr. Girish Kumthekar
Nephrologist
Enquire Now