Baxter Canada Renal

Baxter pioneered the development of renal products and services and is committed to helping kidney disease patients receive the best treatment options available. It is estimated that more than 1.2 million people worldwide suffer from end-stage renal disease (ESRD), or irreversible kidney failure. This number is growing at a rate of approximately 6 to 7 percent annually. This growth is influenced in part by diseases associated with the aging population such as diabetes and high blood pressure, which are leading causes of ESRD.

People with ESRD have two therapeutic choices: dialysis or kidney transplant. There are two forms of dialysis: peritoneal dialysis (PD) and hemodialysis (HD). Baxter is the world’s leading provider of PD products and also provides products for HD. In addition, Baxter offers a complete service portfolio including clinical education, patient education and training, and technical support, to help meet the needs of the dialysis community.

Baxter helped pioneer PD, a home-based treatment for ESRD patients that is primarily performed in a patient’s home. PD works inside the body, using the peritoneal membrane, or abdominal lining, as a natural filter to remove waste from the bloodstream. There are two types of PD therapy: continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) and automated peritoneal dialysis (APD) – both of which Baxter pioneered.

In CAPD, patients manually perform PD solution exchanges several times a day. In APD, solution exchanges are performed by a machine, usually overnight while the patient sleeps. Baxter’s HOMECHOICE APD system is especially suitable for home use due to its small size and ease of use, also making it convenient for patients when they travel. The HOMECHOICE PRO system with RenalSoft software helps physicians in the office monitor a patient’s care at home. Baxter also offers a pediatric version of the HOMECHOICE system, designed to deliver lower fill volumes for smaller patients.

For CAPD, Baxter offers a variety of container systems and connectivity devices to make it easier for patients to perform solution exchanges and reduce risk of infection. Baxter also provides a broad range of PD solutions – including specialized solutions for unique patient needs – to help enhance fluid removal for some patients, assist with meeting patients’ nutritional needs by replacing amino acids lost during dialysis, and to neutralize the acidity level in the body sometimes encountered with acidic lactate-based solutions.

Baxter manufactures machines, dialyzers and other products for HD. In HD, the patient’s blood is pumped outside the body through a machine containing an external filter, or dialyzer, which cleanses the blood and returns it to the body. The procedure generally takes place at a hospital or clinic and the treatment requires several hours three days a week.

In 1956, the company introduced the first commercially available and disposable dialyzer to act as an artificial kidney in HD. Baxter has a history of producing leading edge HD instrumentation and has extended this track record through a partnership with Gambro Inc. EXELTRA is Baxter’s latest single-use dialyzer for the North American market, where industry experts believe single-use dialyzers can increase patient safety and reduce staff prep time in conducting in-center HD.

Baxter’s RENALSOFT software suite helps nephrologists manage care for kidney disease patients from the early stages of their disease through dialysis and transplantation. It provides renal care professionals with tools to track disease progression, capture clinical information, manage co-morbidities, and track compliance with prescribed therapies.

Understanding that no single educational resource will meet the needs of all kidney patients, Baxter has developed a multi-pronged approach to help patients understand complex information about their disease, its progression and available therapeutic options. Globally, Baxter offers a variety of communications tools, including direct-mail materials and Internet-based information for clinicians, patients and caregivers.

Renalinfo.com is a comprehensive and global educational resource for patients with kidney disease or those who may be at risk for developing the disease. It offers customizable tools for both patients and healthcare providers and tailored information for pediatric patients.