PATIENT INFORMATION
Kidney disease
Kidney disease can affect fluid balance, electrolytes, blood pressure, anaemia and how some medicines are cleared from the body.
What the team may do
- Request recent kidney-function and electrolyte tests
- Adjust or avoid some medicines, including certain painkillers
- Plan fluids carefully during and after surgery
- Coordinate with your kidney specialist
What to tell the team
- The stage of your kidney disease, if you know it
- Your usual urine output, and any fluid restriction
- All your medicines, including those prescribed by your kidney specialist
- Whether you have had a kidney transplant
If you are on dialysis
Tell the team your dialysis schedule, vascular access, usual blood pressure, your usual “dry weight” and recent laboratory results. The timing of dialysis around surgery often needs coordination with your dialysis unit.
Protect your fistula or graft
If you have a fistula or graft in your arm, tell every member of staff. Blood-pressure cuffs, drips and blood tests should usually be avoided in that arm. Ask for this to be clearly recorded.