Kidney Health

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Your Kidney Health, Our Priority

At ChristianaCare, we're committed to giving the best possible care for people with kidney disease. Our experienced team of kidney doctors, also called nephrologists, offers a wide range of services, from managing early-stage kidney disease to advanced treatments like dialysis and kidney transplantation.

Our Kidney/Nephrology Services

Early-Stage Kidney Disease is when your kidneys are starting to have trouble working. You might not feel any different, but it’s important to catch it early to keep you and your kidneys healthy.

The goal of our Early-Stage Kidney Disease Management is to slow kidney damage, prevent new health problems, and help keep you healthy.

End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) is a serious health problem. It means that your kidneys may no longer be able to keep you alive. When your kidneys get to the point where they can no longer remove waste, you may need dialysis or a new kidney.

At ChristianaCare, we help people with ESRD by offering treatments like dialysis and kidney transplants.

Dialysis is a process that filters wastes from the blood when your kidneys can no longer do the job. It is not a cure, but it can help you live longer and feel better.

Our experienced staff will work with you to develop a personalized treatment plan. Your kidney doctor will work with you to decide which of the two types of dialysis is best for you:

Hemodialysis: This is the most common type. A nurse uses a needle to connect you to a machine that cleans your blood. It is usually done at dialysis center a few times a week.
Peritoneal Dialysis: This type of dialysis uses your belly to clean your blood by putting fluid in your belly through a tube. The fluid removes waste and extra water when you drain it out later. This can be done at home, often while you sleep.

Dialysis Access is a way for doctors to connect your to a dialysis machine, which cleans your blood when your kidneys can’t. There are a few types of dialysis access depending on which type of dialysis is right for you. You may need a special procedure before starting dialysis. Our team will work with you to get the right access for your needs.

Kidney Transplantation is a surgery to give you a healthy kidney from another person. This new kidney can do the work that your own kidneys can’t do anymore.

If you need a kidney transplant, ChristianaCare's experienced transplant team can help you. We have a program that includes checking if you qualify, helping you while you wait, finding the best match, and taking care of you after your transplant. Learn more about our kidney transplant program .

Why Choose ChristianaCare?

Expert Care

Our comprehensive kidney and vascular care include coordinated services for dialysis, surgery and transplant.

Advanced Technology

We use the latest technology to give you the best possible care.

Convenient Locations

We have multiple locations throughout Delaware to make it easy for you to get our services.

Depending on your needs, your team may include:

A nephrologist is a doctor specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of kidney conditions, including chronic kidney disease, dialysis, and kidney transplants.

Together, you and your nephrologist will review your dialysis needs and refer you to the appropriate specialist for the next steps in your care.

Our Heart and Vascular Interventional Services (HVIS) team collaborates closely with your nephrologist to address your urgent dialysis access needs, which may include the placement of an HD catheter before planning for a PD catheter or AV graft or fistula.

If your nephrologist has determined that a PD catheter is the best access option for you, our skilled general surgery team is ready to work alongside your care team for seamless treatment.

If your nephrologist has determined that an AV graft or fistula is the best access option for you, our expert vascular surgery team is here to collaborate with your care team for optimal results.

Our Center for Surgical Optimization ensures that everyone involved in your care has all the necessary information to support a safe and successful surgery.

The CSO team will review your health history and conduct a health assessment, sharing this information with your surgical team to ensure you're fully prepared for surgery and provide them with the details needed to deliver the best care.

The CSO team will give you comprehensive instructions for the day of surgery and offer educational materials to guide and support your care throughout the entire process.

As Delaware's only adult kidney transplant program, our Kidney Transplant team offers comprehensive care throughout the entire process, from evaluation and waitlist management to post-transplant care.