Guidelines for treating patients needing dialysis

LUCKNOW: The Indian Covid-19 Kidney Health Action Group, which is part of Indian Society of Nephrology, has developed a Haemodialysis Unit Preparedness checklist.

“Dialysis unit administrators have been advised to use this checklist document that describes in detail all that needs to be done in case a patient or staff is found to be positive for coronavirus so that the treatment of the kidney patient isn’t affected,” said Professor Narayan Prasad of Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGIMS).

Prof Prasad, who is also secretary of Indian Society of Nephrology, said the checklist document describes in detail all that needs to be done in case a patient or staff is found to be positive, so that dialysis units do not interrupt service. “Health systems all over the world have developed guidelines to ensure safe delivery of life saving dialysis treatment. That’s why SGPGIMS along with the Indian Society of Nephrology and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare have come out with norms,” he added.

“Patients with end stage kidney failure who need to receive dialysis treatment at dialysis centres every few days to survive are worst hit due to the pandemic,” he said. That’s because interrupting their dialysis treatment could be fatal for them.

The nephrologists feel if the threat of coronavirus infection in the community stays in India for the foreseeable future then these guidelines/checklist would become even more important.

The checklist describes the steps need to be followed at each step - from the arrival of patient to the unit to the end of dialysis treatment, Prof Prasad said.

“This checklist should be used in conjunction with local policies and official guidance from health authorities or hospitals,” he said.