More Kidney Dialysis Could Be Needed In Covid-19 Fight

Few people know that a quarter of patients needing ventilators to treat Covid-19 also need artificial kidneys to support their renal function. But are there enough to go around?

- Dr Miriam Stoppard

We were short of ICU beds. We were short of ventilators. We were short of PPE and testing equipment. And now we could face another shortage – kidney dialysis machines.

Nephrology consultant Graham Lipkin, president of the Renal Association, told the British Medical Journal the problem was an “under-recognised challenge”.

He said: “It has become apparent that there is a high incidence of acute kidney injury requiring some form of renal replacement therapy through dialysis. With the volume of people coming into intensive care, there are increasing challenges to capacity.”