Nephrologists are kidney doctors.
The training that takes to become a nephrologist is extensive. After graduating medical school, those wanting to become a kidney doctor continue clinical training in a hospital setting for a three-year internal medicine residency. Once finishing that residency, they continue on to a two- or three-year nephrology fellowship, where they focus on diagnosing and treating kidney diseases.
As laypeople, there are some signs and symptoms of kidney problems that we should be aware of. Medical experts recommend getting checked out by a doctor if one or more of these are present:
• Swelling in the lower extremities because of fluid buildup
• A smaller volume of urine upon urination
• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain or pressure
• Nausea
• Neurological symptoms, such as lethargy/drowsiness, seizures, or unconsciousness
Nephrologists typically receive their patients through referrals from primary care or other doctors. The most common, telltale sign of a kidney problem that triggers a referral or consultation is proteinuria.
The name proteinuria really gives it away—it’s a condition where there is an abnormally high amount of protein (specifically albumin) in the urine. It’s detected through urine test, which is often ordered on a routine checkup.
Normally-functioning kidneys are essentially blood filters. In healthy patients, proteins aren’t filtered out of the blood into the urine, but instead travel through the kidneys and end up back in the bloodstream. When the kidneys are working properly, though, some protein may be filtered, removed from the bloodstream, and pass into the urine.
If a patient’s lab work reveals proteinuria, the standard care requires the doctor, physician’s assistant, or nurse practitioner take action. At a minimum, that involves repeating the urinalysis lab work to make sure that results are correct. If so, then the next step is to order a referral or consultation with a nephrologist.
One of the most common types of medical malpractice involving kidney diseases is the failure of a primary care or other provider to act on lab work consistent with proteinuria.
Once a patient is in the hands of a nephrologist, it’s up to that specialist to diagnose and manage a host of kidney -related disorders, including:
• Proteinuria (excess protein in the urine)
• Hematuria (blood in the urine)
• Acute or chronic renal failure
• Kidney cancer
• Chronic urinary tract infections (UTI)
• Kidney stones
• Electrolyte imbalances
• Dialysis
The most frequent type of medical malpractice claim against neurologist is the failure to work up signs and symptoms of a kidney problem. Nephrologist have a lot of tools at their disposal, including blood work, urinalysis, diagnostic imaging through ultrasound studies, and even biopsies in consultation with the pathologist.
When nephrologists don’t properly assess, diagnose, and treat their patients’ signs and symptoms, the delay can lead to lifelong injuries and impairments. Here are a few:
• Death from kidney failure.
• Out-of-balance electrolytes can wreck the nervous system, causing terrible pain and loss of other functions, like vision or hearing.
• Heart problems caused by impairment of the kidneys’ role in filtering blood and helping control maintain proper blood pressure.
If you’ve been seriously injured because of kidney-related health care, then contact a top-rated experienced Houston, Texas medical malpractice lawyer for help in evaluating your potential case.
