[Conservative therapy in kidney failure].

PubMed, vol. 166

Abstract

At a certain point, patients with kidney failure will need to decide whether or not to start kidney replacement therapy, i.e. dialysis or kidney transplantation. An increasing number of patients choose to forgo dialysis or transplantation and opt for conservative care. In part, this trend is explained by the ageing population of patients with kidney failure and a more limited survival benefit for dialysis in older patients. Conservative care is a holistic, patient-orientated treatment, aimed at quality of life, advance care planning, reducing symptom burden, and slowing the deterioration of kidney function. As such, conservative care is an active treatment and not merely forgoing kidney replacement therapy. This article will summarize the various aspects of the decision- and treatment phase of conservative care for patients with kidney failure for healthcare providers, both in hospital- and primary care.

Authors 6

1. Mathijs van Oevelen Aachen

   Leiden University Medical Center

   Affiliation as printed

   LUMC, afd. Interne Geneeskunde, Leiden

   Contact: Mathijs van Oevelen (m.van_buren@lumc.nl)

2. Ismay N. van Loon

   Amsterdam University Medical Centers

   Affiliation as printed

   Amsterdam UMC, afd. Nefrologie, Amsterdam

3. Judith Tjin-A-Ton
   Affiliation as printed

   Huisartsenpraktijk Frakking en Tjin-A-Ton, Amstelveen

4. Susanne Westerhoff
   Affiliation as printed

   Zonnehuisgroep IJssel-Vecht, Zwolle

5. Willem Jan W. Bos Aachen

   Leiden University Medical Center

   Affiliation as printed

   LUMC, afd. Interne Geneeskunde, Leiden

6. Marjolijn van Buren Aachen

   Leiden University Medical Center

   Affiliation as printed

   LUMC, afd. Interne Geneeskunde, Leiden