Kidney Disease

We offer services for blood vessel conditions related to kidney disease. If your kidney disease has progressed, we can help you prepare for dialysis with our dialysis access services, and we can partner you with our Sentara Transplant Center.

Our experts in urology also assist patients with kidney stone disease and kidney removal.

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What Is Kidney Disease?

The kidneys are two bean-shaped organs. Each kidney is about the size of a fist. Your kidneys filter extra water and wastes out of your blood and make urine. Kidney disease means your kidneys are damaged and can't filter blood the way they should.

Kidney problems include acute kidney injury, kidney cysts, kidney stones, kidney infections and artery and vein conditions, such as:

Renal artery stenosis: Narrowing of the arteries that carry blood to the kidneys
Renal vein thrombosis: A blood clot in the vein that drains blood from a kidney
Fibromuscular dysplasia: Congenital (present at birth) artery defect that limits blood flow to the kidneys

Risk Factors for Kidney Disease

Symptoms

Many people do not experience symptoms of renal artery and vein conditions related to kidney disease. When they do, they may have:

High blood pressure that cannot be controlled by medicine or lifestyle improvements
Fluid retention
Anemia
Malnutrition

Symptoms of kidney failure are from the buildup of waste products and extra water in your body can include:

Swelling, usually in the legs, feet, or ankles
Headaches
Itching
Fatigue during the day and sleep problems at night
Nausea, loss of taste, loss of appetite and weight loss
Muscle cramps, weakness or numbness
Pain, stiffness or fluid in your joints
Confusion, trouble focusing and memory problems

Diagnostic Tools

Treatments

We offer services to assist patients with concerns related to kidney disease, including dialysis access services to prepare for dialysis.

Kidney transplant is surgery to replace a damaged kidney with a healthy, donated kidney. Learn more at Sentara Transplant Center.

Conservative management treats kidney failure without dialysis or a transplant. You’ll work with your health care team to manage symptoms and preserve your kidney function and quality of life as long as possible.

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