Renal Medicine is exciting and varied. It is primarily a clinical specialty, which combines a need for human understanding with a broad range of scientific and technical interest.

It includes the care of patients with renal, hypertensive, immunological and metabolic disorders, dialysis and transplantation.

Our Renal Medicine unit includes a wide range of services for people who have a variety of kidney problems. 

Pre-Dialysis Service (Pre-Dialysis)

Patients who have kidney problems and are diagnosed as having renal failure will be seen by our nephrologists (kidney doctors) in the out-patient clinics. Some of these patients have kidneys that will eventually fail.  When kidneys fail or stop working, renal replacement therapy (RRT) is needed to remain alive.  These therapies are well established and can give patients a good quality of life for many many years. These patients are put onto the Pre-Dialysis programme.

At this stage we will help patients to understand their condition. We also explain the renal replacement therapies we may use in the future to help manage their condition. We view this as a very important stage in patients' emotional and physical care.

Patients are offered the Pre-Dialysis service's pyschological and educational support arrangements at this stage in their care.

Types of information explained in Pre-Dialysis

• Patients will be talked through the three types of Renal Replacement Therapies (RRT) which are peritoneal dialysis, haemodialysis, and renal transplantation.
• The operations needed to prepare them for RRT (Renal Replacement Therapies)
• Virus checks and immunisations
• Special diets needed
• Special medication needed - what it does and how to take it

Peritoneal Dialysis Unit (Peritoneal)

This service is for patients who have started the life-long treatment of renal replacement therapy. This department looks after renal patients who have chosen the therapy of peritoneal dialysis and has a dedicated team of a consultant and a team of nurses.

Patients may change over to Haemodialysis therapy at some stage or receive a kidney transplant.

Peritoneal dialysis explained  

Peritoneal dialysis works by passing special fluid into the tummy. Some of the toxic chemicals in your blood pass into the fluid and, after four to six hours the fluid is drained out, toxins and all.

Peritoneal dialysis relies on the natural filtering ability of the internal lining of your abdomen (the peritoneum). Fluid is inserted from a closed bag into your abdomen, via an artificial tube connection (a catheter).  It is left there for a few hours to allow the filtering to happen naturally, and then taken out again via the tube.  Fluids of varying molecular concentrations allow different components and volumes of body fluid to be removed.

Peritoneal dialysis involves an operation where a tube (catheter) is inserted into your abdomen, with one end inside, and the other end going through the muscle and skin layers, to the outside.  This is kept closed off except when fluid is being put in, or taken out of, the abdomen.

Peritoneal dialysis can be done three-five times per day and/or overnight.

Haemodialysis explained

Haemodialysis is where your blood is passed through a dialysis machine and cleaned up in the same way as healthy kidneys work. 

In haemodialysis, blood is taken (via a needle inserted into a blood vessel) through a machine, containing an artificial filter.  After passing through the filter, it returns back into the your bloodstream, via another needle. In other words, you are connected to an ‘artificial kidney’. This contains a membrane, which allows some molecules to pass through whilst others are held back

For haemodialysis, an operation is needed to create a large blood vessel, usually in your arm.  This is then used for inserting the necessary needles to connect to the artificial kidney.

Haemodialysis is usually needed for three-four hours three times per week.

Nephrologist:
Internal Medicine
            Thitiporn Wongchaisuriya, M.D.


Consultant Physicians:
Internal Medicine
            Prajej Ruangkanchanasetr, M.D.
            Thanom Supaporn, M.D.
            Thananda Thananda, M.D.
            Patvadee Kamolsiripichaiporn, M.D.
            Oupptham Supasyndh, M.D.

Call Us (662) 910-1600 Ext. 1000, 1057
E-Mail: treatment@kasemrad.com