The future of dialysis treatment: wearable artificial kidneys (WAKs)

Present day limitations in conventional dialysis therapies have prompted the medical community to explore alternative options in the management of end-stage renal disease (ESRD). The wearable artificial kidney (WAK) is a portable dialysis device, worn around an individual’s waist, which aims to prov...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inUniversity of Ottawa journal of medicine Vol. 7; no. 1
Main Authors Imtiaz, Rameez, Thangarasa, Tharshika
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published University of Ottawa 09.06.2017
Subjects
End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD)
Hemodialysis
Wearable Artificial Kidney
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Summary:Present day limitations in conventional dialysis therapies have prompted the medical community to explore alternative options in the management of end-stage renal disease (ESRD). The wearable artificial kidney (WAK) is a portable dialysis device, worn around an individual’s waist, which aims to provide ESRD patients with sustained hemodialysis. In this paper we will explore the mechanisms by which the WAK operates, as well as the evidence for its efficacy and feasibility in clinical practice. RÉSUMÉ Les limites actuelles des thérapies de dialyse conventionnelles ont incité la communauté médicale à explorer des options alterna- tives pour la prise en charge de l’insuffisance rénale chronique. Le rein artificiel portable (WAK, de l’anglais) est un appareil de dialyse portatif, porté autour de la taille d’un individu, qui vise à fournir une hémodialyse continue aux patients atteints d’insuffisance rénale terminale. Dans cet article, nous explorerons les mécanismes de fonctionnement du WAK, ainsi que les preuves de son efficacité et de sa faisabilité en pratique clinique. 
ISSN:2292-650X
2292-6518
DOI:10.18192/uojm.v7i1.1822