Thoughts on the start and withdrawal of dialysis.

Increased life expectancy and the availability of treatments provided by modern medicine have given rise to a new situation in which survival may be prolonged without the patient having an acceptable quality of life. Renal replacement therapy (RRT) to treat End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) may involve the use of aggressive techniques designed to improve and prolong the lives of patients with high comorbidity and very low short term survival expectancy. RRT often means lowering patients’ quality of life, it is a significant burden on families and survival expectancy is low. Patients must actively participate in decision-making, but to do so, the information about the prognosis of their disease and how the treatment will affect their quality of life must be more comprehensive. As nephrologists, we will be able to contribute better to decision-making by improving prognostic tools and participating collectively with the patient and their family in the final decision. It is necessary to offer appropriate care to patients who opt for conservative treatment by implementing multidisciplinary teams within ESRD units.