Self-Care at Home

Self-treatment of acute kidney failure is not recommended. Kidney failure can be a very serious condition that requires medical care.

• It may be possible to receive some or all treatment at home. Treatment in some cases can be administered by a home health nurse under the supervision of a healthcare provider.
  
  
• In cases in which recovery of kidney function is incomplete, the artificial kidney may be needed to clear excess water and accumulating wastes. This is done by dialysis, a process by which the blood is cleared of wastes and excess water. Dialysis, when needed for acute renal failure, is performed at a hospital or dialysis center. Home dialysis may be appropriate in cases in which kidney failure is permanent and dialysis is needed indefinitely.