All Saints Helps Keep Your Kidneys Functioning

Kidneys keep your body “in balance” by helping you eliminate fluids and waste, make red blood cells and control bone health. However, your kidneys may not be able to function properly if you have certain genetic issues, high blood pressure, kidney trauma or a chronic disease such as diabetes.


At Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare – All Saints, we offer medical and interventional treatments for various stages of kidney disease. Our nephrologists (physicians who specialize in kidney disease) will work closely with you and your primary care physician to provide you with ways to better protect your kidneys from failure.

A program of lifestyle behavior change may include:

• teaching you ways to control blood sugar through diet
• medications
• and watching your numbers with your health care provider.

Medical options may also be recommended.

Dialysis
When kidneys fail, dialysis may be recommended. We offer the following dialysis options on an inpatient basis.

• Hemodialysis: During hemodialysis, your blood supply is linked to a special machine that cleans your blood, much like your kidneys would. A nephrologist, or kidney specialist, connects your blood stream with the machine in a surgical procedure. This procedure is performed at All Saints as an inpatient procedure.  For patients requiring hemodialysis on an outpatient basis, we will help connect you with a dialysis center convenient to you.
• Peritoneal dialysis: Peritoneal dialysis is a treatment for patients with severe kidney disease. It uses the patient’s peritoneum (a membrane within the abdominal cavity) to flush, dissolve and exchange fluids from the blood. This type of dialysis is administered through a catheter in the abdomen.
• Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy (CRRT): For patients experiencing acute renal failure, this treatment mimics the functions of the kidneys over a 24-hour period in regulating water, electrolytes, and wastes. It is performed as an inpatient procedure within our Intensive Care Unit.

Our team approach features clinical care providers who have specialized training in working with kidney disease. We collaborate with your primary care physician to ensure your care is comprehensive and managed efficiently.

• To make an appointment, call (262) 687-8340.