General Nephrology
Staff in the Division are skilled at evaluation for various diseases of the kidney and urinary tract. These conditions include haematuria (blood in the urine), proteinuria (protein in the urine), other urine abnormalities, high blood pressure, diabetic nephropathy (kidney involvement due to diabetes), glomerulonephritis (like IgA, lupus-related renal diseases)electrolyte disorders, kidney stones, cysts and urinary tract infections to name a few. Patients with kidney failure at various stages can also be evaluated for the cause of kidney failure and prognosis in a holisitic disease management based manner.
Patients are evaluated through the use of laboratory tests, radiographic and ultrasound scans and where appropriate, realtime-ultrasound guided kidney biopsy atients are also providedmedical and dietary therapy to slow progression of kidney disease and those with worsening kidney function are counseled on the treatment options. We provide evidence-based treatment for kidney diseases in all its stages and treat kidney failure using various modalities of renal replacement therapy, including acute dialysis, haemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis and kidney transplantation.
Chronic Haemodialysis
Patients with end-stage kidney failure who opt for long-term haemodialysis will receive comprehensive treatment including dietary counseling, hypertension control, evaluation and management of cardiac risk factors, anemia and renal bone disease. The Division also operates a chronic haemodialysis centre for stable patients (the NUH Dialysis Centre at a satellite location at the Singapore Labour Foundation Building on Thomson Road). We also provide selectiveHigh Dependency haemodialysis for patients with high cardiovascular risk and often deemed unsuitable for haemodialysis in Singapore.
Peritoneal dialysis
Staff are also skilled in evaluation and training of patients for Peritoneal Dialysis, Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis (CAPD) or Automated Peritoneal Dialysis (APD). Training is offered on an outpatient basis to both patients and their relatives or helpers. A disease management care team consisting of nephrologists, renal dietitians and specialist nurses provides dietary counseling and holistic care to PD patients to minimize complications of kidney failure.
Kidney transplant
Kidney transplantation is an important form of treatment for kidney failure and can be performed for suitable patients even without embarking on dialysis (pre-emptive transplant). Our programme offers evaluation of patients with kidney failure for suitability for transplantation, evaluation of potential donors for suitability to donate and coordinates the pre- and post-transplant care of transplant patients and donors. Staff together with kidney transplant surgeons, other specialists and transplant coordinators provides long-term care for transplant patients. A number of mile stone transplants have been done at NUHS: the first Asian combined bonemarrow and kidney transplant and the second ABO (blood group) incompatible transplant in Singapore as well a number of high risk complicated cases.