PUNE: Beating all odds, a 55-year-old patient has survived dialysis for over 20 years, spending a significant part of his daily life in and out of hospitals.
For over two decades, three times a week, for four hours every time, he would turn up without fail for the dialysis sessions.
Dr Abhay Huprikar, Consultant Nephrologist at Ruby Hall Clinic said that as a doctor, it is gratifying to see that a patient is living longer on dialysis after suffering 90 per cent damage to kidneys.
“He carries on his daily activities normally and is completely independent. On average, the five-year survival rate for patients on dialysis is 50 per cent, while the 10-year rate is less than 10 per cent. It’s nothing but a miracle that he has managed to survive all these years,” said Dr Huprikar.
Dr Huprikar added that in this particular case, not only did we start the dialysis at an early stage, but the patient himself was diligent when it came to follow-up sessions.
“His self-discipline was extended to his diet. Knowing that any excess fluid intake is likely to put pressure on his heart and lungs, he stuck faithfully to his dietary and lifestyle recommendations,” said Dr Huprikar.
WHO NEEDS DIALYSIS?
- A patient needs dialysis when the kidneys are no longer working effectively, waste products, electrolytes and fluid build-up in the blood.
- Dialysis takes over a portion of the function of the failing kidneys to remove the fluid and waste products.
- Doctors said that if the kidneys have failed, patients need to have dialysis treatments for their whole life unless they are able to get a kidney transplant.
- Life expectancy on dialysis can vary depending on other medical conditions and how well they follow the treatment plan. Average life expectancy on dialysis is 5-10 years in most cases across India.
