Tree Top Hospital introduces at home dialysis treatment

Today, there are many people suffering from and requiring treatment for both chronic and acute kidney diseases. When the disease progresses to kidney failure, often time the only option to replace kidney function, is to undergo dialysis until a kidney transplant becomes possible.

Although two types of dialysis options are available in other countries, only hemodialysis is available in Maldives. Hemodialysis is a treatment that must be provided within a hospital setting. This causes a lot of difficulties for patients. The lack of access to this treatment, especially in some rural areas, poses many challenges to patients in Maldives.

Tree Top Hospital Medical Director Dr Mladen Knotek also highlighted this.

"Hemodialysis is a treatment that requires several visits to the hospital multiple times a week. Patients, especially from rural areas have shared their difficulties in having to move to Malé or an island where the service is available. People have expressed worry and cried over this too" the doctor said.

The doctor said that dialysis is more difficult because only hemodialysis is available in Maldives.

"In every health-developed country, patients have another option for dialysis when they seek treatment for kidney failure. It is the option of peritoneal dialysis at home. This dialysis can be done at home on patients' own or with the help of someone," he said.

Peritoneal dialysis is self-administered dialysis with the help of a device. This dialysis requires a catheter tube to be inserted into the abdomen. So, this type of dialysis may not be suitable for someone who has had major abdominal surgery.

Peritoneal dialysis is performed in two ways. One is manual dialysis, which connects the device to the catheter tube three or four times a day, depending on the severity of the disease, and the other is the ultimated peritoneal dialysis, which needs to be connected to a device only at night and the manual process is automated.

Both types of peritoneal dialysis can be safely performed by the patient once full information and instructions are provided.

The doctor said the treatment gives patients freedom and empowerment, and added that instead of having to spend a lot of time in the hospital for dialysis, it becomes a great relief for patients.

Dr. Knotek said the hospital decided to introduce the treatment for these reasons.

"We introduced peritoneal dialysis in the last week of last month because we understand the need for such treatment in an island country like Maldives. This treatment can be done safely and self-sufficiently. The doctor explained.

Dr. Kotek said although the treatment is newly introduced in the country, Maldivians have been seeking the treatment in neighbouring countries.

"This is new in Maldives but it is not new to the people of Maldives. Some of the patients are already undergoing peritoneal dialysis," he said.

Tree Top Hospital introduced the service during urology and transplant specialist Dr. Ivan Neretljak's visit to the hospital last month. Tree Top's peritoneal dialysis is available for Maldivians under the Police, MNDF and private health insurance schemes.

Those who wish to receive the treatment are required to contact the Tree Top Hospital call centre at 3351610.

Tree Top Hospital Medical Director Dr. Mladen Knotek said the hospital is working to introduce additional new services to make it easier for patients to receive treatment.