What is the typical management approach for a patient with stage 5 kidney disease?

In stage 5 kidney disease, also known as end-stage renal disease (ESRD), the kidneys have lost nearly all their function, which necessitates immediate medical intervention to sustain life. The typical management approach involves either dialysis or a kidney transplant, as these modalities are crucial for replacing the lost kidney function. Dialysis can be performed either through hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis, which helps to filter waste products from the blood when the kidneys can no longer do so effectively.

Kidney transplantation offers a more long-term solution, providing patients with a functioning kidney that can restore normal biological functions and improve quality of life. Supportive care also plays an essential role, including controlling symptoms, managing complications, and addressing comorbidities associated with kidney failure.

Options that suggest increased fluid intake, reliance solely on exercise and dietary changes, or standalone long-term medication therapy are not adequate or appropriate for the management of stage 5 kidney disease. Fluid management must be carefully monitored because patients are often fluid restricted due to their declining renal function. Additionally, while dietary adjustments and exercise are beneficial in general kidney health, they cannot replace the need for renal replacement therapies essential in stage 5. Long-term medication therapy alone cannot address the underlying loss of kidney function