Access
A way of gaining entry to the bloodstream to perform haemodialysis.
Access Surgery
Surgery to create dialysis access, either vascular access for haemodialysis or peritoneal.
ACE Inhibitor
Group of drugs used in the treatment of raised blood pressure and heart failure. Possible side effects include weakness, dizziness, loss of appetite and skin rashes.
Acute Renal Failure
Rapid deterioration of kidney function caused by injury or illness often reversible.
Alport's Disease
A hereditary disease that causes inflammation (nephritis) of the kidney with deafness and less commonly cataracts. Affected males usually develop end-stage renal failure, unless treated with a kidney transplant, die before the age of 40. Females have better expectancy.
Anaemia
A reduction in the number of cells in the blood which carry oxygen in the blood (red blood cells).
Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers
(ARBS) A class of drug with a similar function to ACE inhibitors, ie reducing blood pressure and improving heart function in heart failure.
Ankle Oedema
Swelling in the ankles caused by a build-up of fluid.
Anti- rejection Treatment
Medicines to counter the response of a transplant recipient's immune system, which recognises the transplanted organ as 'foreign' tissue and attempts to reject it.
Anti-hypertensive
Medicine to control persistently high blood pressure. (hypertension)
Arteriovenous Fistula (AVF) (also Fistula)
The point at which a vein and artery are joined under the skin to increase the blood flow in the vein, which can be 'needled' to perform haemodialysis. The fistula is usually made under local anaesthetic at the wrist or elbow by a surgeon.
Artheroma
Break down of the walls of the artery due to the formation in them of fatty plaques and scar tissue. This limits blood circulation.
Autoimmune Disease
One of a number of otherwise unrelated disorders caused by inflammation and destruction of tissues by the body’s own immune response. It is not known why the body should lose the ability to distinguish between substances that are ‘self’ and those that are ‘non-self’.
Autolysis
The destruction of tissues or cells brought about by the actions of their own enzymes.
Automated Peritoneal Dialysis
A form of peritoneal dialysis in which a machine is used to carry out multiple fluid exchanges, usually overnight.
Benchmark
A level of performance which can be used for comparison.
Bladder Outflow Obstruction
A condition which impedes the flow of urine out of the bladder, eg an enlarged prostate gland.
Calcification
The deposit of calcium in tissue. In kidney disease it may result from failure of the kidney to regulate calcium levels. Vascular calcification, in which blood vessels become damaged, contributes to cardiovascular disease.
CAPD Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis)
A type of peritoneal (see definition) dialysis in which the fluid is exchanged manually.
Cardiovascular
Relating to the heart and blood vessels.
Catheter
A flexible hollow tube used to gain access to the body, for example to a vein, the peritoneal cavity or the bladder.
CCPD (Continuous Cyclic Peritoneal Dialysis)
A type of peritoneal dialysis which combines manual and automated fluid exchnages.
Cholesterol
A type of fat found in the body that can be measured in the blood.
Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)
Abnormality of the structure or the function of both kidneys, lasting more than three months; often progressive.
Competency Framework
A description of the skills and competencies required to carry out a particular task or role.
Creatinine
A waste product created during muscle usage. When creatinine is measured in the blood it gives a good indication of how the kidneys are working.
Cyst
An Abnormal sac or closed cavity filled with liquid or semi solid matter.
Demographic
Relating to the characteristics or composition of a population.
Diabetes
A chronic condition where glucose (sugar) in food cannot be metabolised and builds up in the blood. Over time the raised blood glucose causes damage to the blood vessels, including those in the kidney, causing cardiovascular disease and loss of kidney function.
Diabetic Autonomic Neuropathy
Damage to the nerves resulting from damage to the small blood vessels caused by diabetes.
Diabetic Nephropathy
Damage to the kidney caused by diabetes.
Dialyser
The part of the haemodialysis machine that filters the blood, removing the body's waste products and excess fluid.
Dialysis
An artificial process to remove the bodys' waste products and excess water. There are two different sorts of dialysis: haemodialysis (HD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD).
Dialysis fluid
The fluid into which the molecules of waste products and water move during the process of dialysis.
Diuretics
Drugs that help the kidneys remove water from the body.
Electrolytes
Mineral salts found in the blood whose levels are controlled by the kidneys. When measured in the blood, they give a good indication of the functioning of the kidneys.
End Stage Renal Failure
Another name for established renal failure.
Epoetin
A drug used to treat anaemia which is caused by erythropoietin deficiency associated with renal failure, sometimes called EPO.
Erythropoietin (EPO)
A hormone that stimulates the bone marrow to produce red blood cells. It is produced by healthy kidneys but can be administered as an injection if the kidneys fail.
Established Renal Failure
Established Renal Failure (ERF), also called End Stage Renal Failure, is chronic kidney disease which progressed so far that the patients kidneys no longer function sufficiently to maintain life.
Exit Site
The point at which a dialysis catheter comes out through the skin.
Fluid Exchange
In peritoneal dialysis, the process of draining out used dialysis fluid and replacing it with fresh.
Fluid Overload
A condition in which there is too much fluid in the body. This usually leads to high blood pressure and weight gain above the person’s dry weight. The fluid tends to gather around the ankles (Ankle oedema) and in the lungs (Pulmonary oedema).
Functional Capacity
The extent to which someone is able to carry out normal activity.
Gangrene
Death and decay of part of the body due to lack of or loss of blood supply.
Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR)
The rate at which the glomeruli in the kidneys excrete waste products and excess fluid. it reflects the percentage of normal filtration function remaining. Formulae for calculating estimated GFR take into account factors such as the patients' age, body mass and ethnic origin.
Glomeruli
Tiny clusters of blood vessels which act as the filters in the kidney.
Glomerulonephritis
A kidney disease caused by the immune system which results in inflammation and damage to the glomeruli.
Glucose
A type of sugar. It is the main constituent of peritoneal dialysis fluid and it enables water to move from the person’s body into the dialysis fluid.
Graft
Something implanted or transplanted so: 1) a tube of synthetic material connected to blood vessels as an alternative to a fistula, to provide vascular access for haemodialysis: or 2) a transplanted kidney or other organ.
Grafting
Any organ, tissue, or object used for transplantation to replace a faulty part of the body. A ‘skin graft’ is a piece of skin cut from a healthy part of the body and used to heal a damaged area of skin.
Haemodialfiltration
A blood purifying treatment which combines some aspects of haemodialysis and haemofiltration
Haemodialysis (HD)
The process of filtering the blood outside the body using a dialysis machine. The blood is circulated through a machine drawing out waste products by diffusion and excess water through a filter. Each haemodialysis session normally lasts approximately four hours and usually takes place three times a week usually in a hospital or a satellite clinic.
Haemoglobin
The substance in red blood cells that carries oxygen around the body. A low haemoglobin level indicates anaemia.
Hypertension
High blood pressure above 140/80mmHg
Hypoglycaemia
Low blood sugar levels - less than 4 mmol/l in diabetes.
Hypotension
Low blood pressure below 130/70mmHg
Insulin
Hormone produced by the panaceas and released into the blood stream to control blood sugar levels in the body.
Intravenous Infusion
fliud given directly into a vein
Ischaemia
An inadequate flow of blood to a part of the body, caused by constriction or blockage of the blood vessels supplying it.
Large Prostate Gland
A male accessory sex gland that opens into the urethra just below the bladder which has become enlarged. This in turn can obstruct the neck of the bladder affecting urination( peeing)
Live Donor
Donation of organs from live people. ie in kidney transplant, or liver.
Membrane
A very thin layer of material. In peritoneal dialysis it is the perineum inside the body that is the membrane used to filter out waste products and excess water.
National Transplant List
The list of those awaiting a transplant.
Nephritis
A type of inflammation of the kidneys.
Nephrologist
A doctor who specialises in kidney disease.
Neuropathy
Any disease of the peripheral nerves, usually causing weakness and numbness.
NICE
National Institute for Clinical Excellence
Oedema
A build up of fluid in the body causing fluid overload. Most common are ankle or pulmonary.
Parathyroid Hormone (PTH)
A hormone produced by four glands in the neck. It normally helps control calcium levels. In people who have kidney failure, too much may be produced, leading to high calcium levels. This can cause bone calcification and pain.
Pathway of Care
A description of the stages of a patients care for a particular condition or treatment.
Peritoneal Cavity
The space between two layers of the peritoneum
Peritoneal Dialysis (PD)
A method of dialysis which uses the body's peritoneum as the filter to remove the bodys waste products and excess water. there are 3 different tyoes of peritoneal dialysis: Automated (APD), continuous cyclic peritoneal (CCPD)and continuous amulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD)
Peritoneum
A natural membrane covering the body's abdominal organs, which is used in peritoneal dialysis to filter out the bodys' waste products and excess water.
Phosphates
Mineral salts that work with calcium to keep bones strong. The kidneys are involved in controlling the amounts of phosphates in the blood. When kidneys fail, blood phosphates level tend to become high, which can cause low blood calcium levels, leading to a condition known as renal bone disease.
Platelets
Small cells in the blood that help it to clot.
Polycystic Kidney Disease
A genetic disorder which causes multiple cysts to develop in both kidneys. It is one cause of progressive loss of kidney function.
Potassium
A mineral found in the blood which needs to be monitored in people with kidney failure as too much or too little can be dangerous. It may need to be restricted in the diet.
Proteins
Components of the body which are essential to its structure, functioning and repair.
Pulmonary Oedema
Too much fluid gathered in the lungs as a result of fluid overload.
Pyelonephritis
Bacterial infection of the kidney. In Chronic Pyelonephritis, the kidneys become small and scarred and the kidneys fail.
Rejection
The process by which the body's immune system recognises that a transplanted kidney cell is not "its own" and then tries to damage it.
Renal
Relating to kidneys
Renal Bone Disease
A condition leading to weak bones, caused by high phosphate levels and by low calcium and vitamin D levels.
Satellite Unit
A unit providing haemodialysis and sometimes other services, liked to a main unit which provides a full range of services. Usually it provides treatment for more stable patients, closer to where they live than the main unit.
Stenosis
In vascular access, narrowing or constriction of the blood vessels forming the fistula.
Tissue Type
A persons tissue type id determinedby a set of inherited characteristics found on the surface of cells. These characteristics are so diverse that it is unusual for there to be an eact tissue match between a donor and recipient, but the more the characteristicsthat match, the more likely it is that the transplant will succeed.
Transplant
Can mean either a transplant operation or a transplanted kidney.
Transplantation
The implantation of an organ or tissue from one person (the donor) to another (the recipient)
Urea and Electrolytes
Mineral salts and chemicals found in the blood, whos levels are controlled by the kidneys. When measured in the blood, they give a good indication of the functioning of the kidneys and how well dialysis is working.
Ureters
The body's tubes that take urine from the kidneys to the bladder.
Urethra
The body's tube that takes urine from the bladder to outside the body.
Urinary Tract
the organs concerned with production and excretion of urine: the kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra.
Vascular
Relating to or supplied with blood vessels
Vascular Access
Gaining entry to the bloodstream via a blood vessel to perform haemodialysis.
Vascular Access
A fistula, catheter or graft allowing access to the blood stream for haemodialysis.
Vascular Disease
Disease affecting the blood vessels. Peripheral vascular disease affects smaller blood vessels and capillaries.
Vasculitis
A disease which causes inflammation of the blood vessels. Microscopic vasculitis: inflammation of very small blood vessels. If it affects the blood vessels in the kidney it can cause damage.
Venous Catheter
A catheter inserted into a vein. Central venous catheter: a catheter inserted into a central vein, e.g through the neck, shoulder or arm.
Wet Foods
Foods which are made mainly from fluids and so need to be counted as part of a fluid allowance.
