Glossary

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Abdomen
The part of the body containing the internal organs. Located between the pelvis and the chest cavity.


Access
A means to get into the body. Access to the bloodstream for hemodialysis is gained via fistulas, grafts, etc. Access to the peritoneal cavity for peritoneal dialysis is via a catheter.


Acute Renal Failure
Sudden and severe decrease in kidney function that is short term.


Acute
Rapidly developing; severe; short duration.


Anaemia
A deficiency of the oxygen carrying pigment of Haemglobin often accompanied by a reduced number of circulating red blood cells; common in patients on dialysis due to decreased red blood cell production and procedural blood loss. The major symptoms are fatigue, tiredness, breathlessness on exertion, pallor and poor resistance to infection.


Anaphylaxis
Anaphylaxis or anaphylactic reaction is an immediate, severe reaction to a substance to which an individual is allergic. The reaction may include signs and/or symptoms such as hives, itching or wheezing. The reaction may develop into anaphylactic shock, which can cause life-threatening consequences such as hypotension, cardiac arrhythmias or arrest, spasms of the breathing passages and swelling of the throat.


Antibiotic
Medication used to kill bacteria and fight infection.


Anticoagulant
Medication that delays or stops the clotting of blood such as Coumadin® or heparin.


Antihypertensive
Medication that lowers blood pressure.


Antiseptic
A chemical which prevents or inhibits growth and reproduction of bacteria; it does not necessarily destroy them as a disinfectant would.


Arterial Line
A tube that carries blood away from the body into the artificial kidney.


Arteriosclerosis
Hardening of the arteries.


Artery
A blood vessel carrying blood away from the heart to other parts of the body.


Artificial Kidney Machine
A machine that supports and monitors the functioning of the artificial kidney (dialyser). Also called “hemodialysis machine.”


Artificial Kidney
A filtering device used with an artificial kidney machine to remove excess fluid and waste products from the body. Also known as “dialyser” and “hemodialyser.”


Automated Peritoneal Dialysis (APD)
A form of dialysis that uses a cycling machine to infuse and drain dialysate automatically from the peritoneal cavity several times during the night while the patient sleeps.


Bacteria
Single cell organisms, capable of rapid reproduction. They are present everywhere; some are harmless, others are known to produce infectious diseases.


Bath
See “dialysate.”


Blood chemistries
Measurement of certain chemicals in the blood.


Blood flow rate
In dialysis, the rate at which the patient’s blood is pumped through the artificial kidney.


Blood pressure
The pressure blood exerts on the walls of the blood vessels. This is expressed in two numbers, such as 120/80. The systolic (top) number is the pressure when the heart is contracting. The diastolic (bottom) number is the pressure when the heart is at rest.


Blood pump
A pump that moves blood from the patient’s access through the blood tubing an artificial kidney and back to the patient without damage to the blood cells.


Bruit
Sound produced by the blood flowing though a graft, fistula, or shunt.


BUN (blood urea nitrogen)
Combination of waste products (nitrogen and urea) in the blood normally excreted by the kidneys.


Calcium
Element found in the body. Important to bone growth and formation, blood clotting, nerve and muscle functioning and the activation of certain enzymes.


Carbohydrates
Category of food that is easily used by the body for energy.


Cardiac
Anything to do with the heart.


Cardioprotective Haemodialysis
HD therapy system specially designed for optimised cardiovascular protection


Catheter
A flexible, hollow tube through which fluids enter or leave the body. A catheter is implanted in the abdomen for peritoneal dialysis.


Chronic renal (kidney) failure
Damage to the kidneys that cannot be reversed, usually progressive in nature.


Clearance
Rate that waste products in the blood are removed through dialysis expressed in millilitres/minute.


Coagulation
The process of forming a blood clot.


Congestive heart failure
A condition in which the body is fluid overloaded, causing the heart to pump less effectively. Congestive heart failure may result in excess fluid in the lungs.


Contaminate
Allowing microorganisms to contact a sterile area, making it unsterile and creating potential for infection.


Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis (CAPD)
A form of dialysis in which dialysate drains into and out of the peritoneal cavity by gravity several times a day.


Convulsion
Involuntary muscle contractions and relaxation.


Creatinine
One of the many waste products in the blood produced by normal tissue breakdown and removed by the kidneys, or by dialysis in patients with renal failure.


Cross-matching
Testing of blood and tissues to check compatibility of donor kidney and patient for kidney transplantation.


Culture
A sample of organisms taken from a site to identify the specific organism causing infection.


Dialysate flow rate
Rate at which dialysate flows through the dialyser.


Dialysate
Solution containing water and chemicals (electrolytes) that passes through the artificial kidney to remove excess fluids and wastes from the blood, also called “bath.”


Dialyser
See “artificial kidney”.


Dialysis treatment plan
Regimen based on the individual needs of the renal failure patient to reestablish physical balance.


Dialysis
Cleansing the body of unwanted toxins, waste products and excess fluid by filtering them from the blood through a semi-permeable membrane.


Diffusion
Passage of particles from an area of high concentration to a solution of low concentration resulting in an even distribution of particles.


Disinfectant
An agent which will kill most microorganisms (bacteria, viruses) it contacts.


Dry weight
The weight of a dialysis patient when excess fluid has been removed. Also known as “ideal weight”.


Dwell Time
Length of time dialysis solution stays in the peritoneal cavity during peritoneal dialysis.


End-stage-renal disease (ESRD)
Stage of kidney damage that requires dialysis or kidney transplantation to maintain life. Another term for permanent kidney failure.


Exchange
The process of changing used dialysate for fresh solution in peritoneal dialysis.


Exit site
The area where the needles enter or exit through the access. Also, where a peritoneal dialysis catheter or subclavian catheter exits the skin.


Fistula
The surgical joining of an artery and a vein so that the vein enlarges due to the flow of arterial blood. A fistula is a type of access, also known as an 'arteriovenous fistula'.


Fluid overload
Point at which extra fluid in the body causes edema, difficulty in breathing or extra strain on the heart.


Glomerulonephritis
Inflammation of the kidney’s filters (glomeruli).


Graft
In dialysis, surgical placement of a material between an artery and vein to create a circulatory access for hemodialysis. Graft also refers to a transplanted kidney.


Haematocrit
The ratio of red blood cells to whole blood.


Haemodialyser
See “artificial kidney”.


Haemodialysis
Removal of excess fluids and waste products by passage of blood through an artificial kidney.


Haemoglobin
Red, protein portion of the red blood cell which carries oxygen from lungs to body tissues.


Heparin
An anticoagulant given in hemodialysis to slow clotting time so that blood will not clot in the lines or dialyser.


Hepatitis B Surface Antigen
Substance that indicates infection with hepatitis B. Testing for this antigen is performed frequently on clinic staff and patients.


Hepatitis
Inflammation of the liver caused by virus, bacteria, toxic agents or medication.


Hypertension
High blood pressure.


Hypotension
Low blood pressure.


Immunosuppressive drug
Type of medication that suppresses the body’s immune response. Given to transplant recipients to help prevent rejection of the transplanted kidney.


Infection
Invasion of the body by disease - producing organisms and the reaction of the tissues to their presence.


Inflammation
Localised heat, redness, swelling and pain; usually as a result of infection or irritation.


Intravenous
Within a vein.


Kidneys
Two bean-shaped organs located at the back of the abdominal cavity, one on each side of the spinal column. Kidneys maintain the body’s chemical balance by excreting waste products and excess fluid in the form of urine.


Kt/V
Clearance x time / volume. Measure that indicates how well waste products have been removed by dialysis treatment.


Membrane
Thin layer of tissue or material, usually an outer layer or lining of organs or group of organs.


Metabolism
Physical and chemical changes occurring within the body in order to produce energy.


Minerals
Inorganic substances necessary to normal body function, but toxic in high concentrations.


Monitor
(noun) Electronic device used to check, remind, or warn.(verb) Watching patients during their treatments, or checking the adequacy of treatments over time.


Nausea
the feeling that one is about to vomit


Nephrectomy
Surgical removal of the kidney.


Nephrologist
Doctor specialising in kidney disorders.


Nephron
The tiny filtering unit of kidney which maintains the body’s chemical balance. There are approximately one million nephrons in each healthy kidney.


Neuropathy
Any disease of the nerves.


Oedema
Swelling or puffiness due to buildup of excess fluid in the tissues most noticeable in ankles, hands and face. Occurs in dialysis patients as a result of excess fluid intake or decreased ultrafiltration.


Osmosis
Movement of fluid through a semipermeable membrane to achieve equal concentration on both sides of the membrane.


Palpitation
Irregular beating of the heart.


Parathyroid Glands
Small glands located in the neck that produce a hormone which regulates calcium and phosphorus levels in the blood.


Parathyroidectomy
Surgical removal of the parathyroid glands usually part of the treatment of hyperparathyroidism.


PD Catheter
A flexible, hollow tube through which fluids enter or leave the body. A catheter is implanted in the abdomen for peritoneal dialysis.


Pericarditis
Inflammation of the pericardium, the sac-like structure surrounding the heart.


Peritoneal Cavity
Space surrounding the abdominal organs located under the abdominal muscles.


Peritoneal Dialysis
A form of dialysis in which the lining of the abdomen, the peritoneal membrane, acts as a natural filter.


Peritoneum (or Peritoneal membrane)
Smooth, semipermeable membrane that covers the abdominal organs and lines the abdominal cavity.


Peritonitis
Infection of the peritoneal cavity that must be treated immediately by a doctor.


Phosphate Binders
Medications that bind with dietary phosphorus so that it may be eliminated from the body; helps keep calcium and phosphorus in balance for dialysis patients.


Phosphorus
An element necessary for normal body functions, especially bone formation.


Polycystic Kidney Disease
Hereditary disease involving growth of cysts on kidney tissue.


Potassium
An element needed by the body for normal muscle and nerve function and cell maintenance.


Protein
Group of nitrogen containing compounds found in the body that are essential to life.


Pruritus
Itching.


Pulse
Throbbing sensation felt in the arteries in time with the heartbeat.


Red Blood Cell
Type of blood cell containing haemoglobin which carries oxygen to the tissues.


Renal
Referring to the kidneys.


Semipermeable membrane
Material that allows only fluids and small particles to flow through.


Sodium
Element found in the body that helps regulate the body’s fluid content.


Sterile
Totally free from any living microorganisms.


Thrill
Pulsation (vibration or buzzing) felt over the graft or fistula.


Tissue typing
Matching the blood cells of potential transplant recipients with donors.


Toxin
Waste product in the blood or any substance that is poisonous.


Ultrafiltration
Process used to remove excess fluid from the blood during dialysis.


Uraemia
Build-up of waste products in the blood due to the inability of the kidneys to excrete them.


Urea
Main breakdown product of protein metabolism. It is the chemical form in which unwanted nitrogen is excreted from the body.


URR
Urea reduction ratio. Percentage based on how much blood urea nitrogen (BUN) was removed during a dialysis treatment. Indicates how effectively urea and other waste products have been removed.


Vascular
Referring to blood vessels.


Vein
Blood vessel that carries blood from the parts of the body back to the heart.


Venous line
Tube that carries blood from the dialyzer back to the body.


Venous
Referring to veins and the flow of blood to the heart.


Waste products
Substances formed from the breakdown of protein in foods and from normal muscle tissue.


White Blood Cell
Type of blood cell that fights infection in the body.