Award-Winning Nephrologist Offers Insights on Hernias in Dialysis Patients

Hamilton, Canada, May 16, 2014 --(PR.com)-- When undergoing peritoneal dialysis (PD), patients whose cause of kidney failure is polycystic kidney disease (PKD) may be at higher risk for complications due to enlarged kidneys or liver reducing the volume capacity of the peritoneal cavity. One of these complications is hernias -- a fact not generally known, but not such an uncommon occurrence among dialysis patients, and something more people with kidney ailments need to be made aware of.

"Abdominal hernias can be painful," said Shiona Mackenzie-Morrison, Hamilton Chapter Coordinator for the PKD Foundation of Canada. "Many patients are concerned about undergoing continuous peritoneal dialysis if they have experienced a hernia. In her talk at St. Joe's Charlton Campus on May 25, Dr. Bargman will explain why hernias should not prevent people from doing PD and she will be available to answer questions."

Joanne Bargman MD, FRCPC, is an award winning staff Nephrologist at the University Health Network (UHN) and Professor of Medicine at the University of Toronto. Dr. Bargman says that, despite the increased risk of hernias in polycystic kidney disease patients, they can do very well on PD.

"This home dialysis method allows the patient greater control over their therapy, and obviates the need to travel to an in-centre dialysis unit several times a week," Dr. Bargman said. "Except in the patients with massively enlarged kidneys, PD is a viable method of renal replacement therapy with a good outcome in PKD patients."

Dr. Bargman is Director of Peritoneal Dialysis for the UHN, and co-director of the Combined Renal-Rheumatology Lupus Clinic for the UHN. She has given more than 600 invited lectures internationally on diverse subjects. Recently, she was chosen as the 12th Robert Collins Visiting Lecturer in dialysis at the University of Colorado in Denver.

Dr. Bargman has won the “Silver Shovel”, given by the graduating medical class of the University of Toronto to the best lecturer in the undergraduate years. She has also won the University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine Postgraduate Teaching Award, given to the best teacher in the postgraduate program. In 2013, she was the recipient of both the Donald Seldin Award for excellence in nephrology at the National Kidney Foundation (US) and the award for teaching excellence from the Canadian Society of Nephrology.

Dr. Bargman is co-author of the chapter “Chronic Kidney Disease” in the 17th, 18th and upcoming 19th editions of Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine.

Hosted by the Hamilton Chapter of the PKD Foundation of Canada, this free public talk starts at 2pm in Classroom B of the Juravinski Innovation Tower, 50 Charlton Ave. East, in Hamilton, Ontario, L8N 4A6. Registration is not required.

PKD is a genetic disorder in which clusters of cysts develop primarily within the kidneys. The disease also can cause cysts to develop in the liver and other organs. High blood pressure and kidney failure are common problems for people with PKD.

There is no cure to date for this disease that affects an estimated 66,000 Canadians. For more information about PKD, see the PKD Foundation of Canada website.