Can you live without both kidneys on dialysis?

Yes, but kidney dialysis would be needed. We occasionally remove both kidneys prior to transplantation in certain kidney diseases, but dialysis is necessary until the transplant occurs.

How long can you survive without both kidneys?

This is a form of medical treatment that substitutes the job of the kidneys by filtering out toxins and excess water from the body. A person without functional kidneys needs to remain on dialysis indefinitely, or until they can get kidney donation.

Can you survive if both kidneys shut down?

Most people have two working kidneys, but people can live well as long as at least one is working correctly. When the kidneys don’t work effectively, waste products build up in your body. If this happens, you might feel sick. In the most serious situations, kidney failure can be life-threatening.

What happens if you remove both kidneys?

If you have both kidneys completely removed, you will not make any urine. You will need to have kidney dialysis. This is a way of getting rid of waste products and excess water that the kidneys normally filter out of your blood. Dialysis means you can lead a more or less normal life without a working kidney.

How long can someone live on dialysis without kidneys?

People who stop dialysis may live anywhere from one week to several weeks, depending on the amount of kidney function they have left and their overall medical condition.

Can I refuse kidney dialysis?

Yes. You have the right to decide not to start dialysis if you feel that the burdens outweigh the benefits to you. If you are not able to make this kind of decision, someone (such as a family member, lawyer, etc.)

What happens when you lose both kidneys?

How long can someone live with kidney failure and dialysis?

Average life expectancy on dialysis is 5-10 years, however, many patients have lived well on dialysis for 20 or even 30 years. Talk to your healthcare team about how to take care of yourself and stay healthy on dialysis.

Do you need two kidneys to live?

Although most people have two kidneys, you only need one functioning kidney to live an active, healthy life. If you have only one kidney, it’s important to protect it and keep it functioning well because you don’t have a second one to take over if it fails.