Kidney Failure Treatment Options

With kidney failure, there are three treatment options to help filter your blood and take over part of the work your damaged kidneys can no longer do. Those options are:

• Hemodialysis, which uses a machine to move your blood through a filter outside your body, removing wastes.
• Peritoneal dialysis, which uses the lining of your belly to filter your blood inside your body, removing wastes.
• Kidney transplantation, which is a surgery to place a healthy kidney (from either a living or dead person) into your body to filter your blood.

There of course is a fourth care option that offers care without replacing the work of the kidneys, referred to as Conservative management. This treats kidney failure without dialysis or a transplant. With this option, you'll work with your health care team to manage symptoms and preserve your kidney function and quality of life as long as possible.

Living with kidney failure can be a huge challenge. It works best if you stick to your treatment schedule, review your medicines with your health care provider at every visit, follow a special eating plan, and are active most days of the week.​

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