Health Article description.An arterial blood gases (ABG) test measures the acidity ( pH) and the levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood from an artery. This test is used to find out how well your lungs are able to move oxygen into the blood and remove carbon dioxide from the blood. As blood passes through your lungs, oxygen moves into...

Health Article description.Rhabdomyolysis is a process in which dying muscle cells cause the toxic buildup of certain substances in the blood. Some of these substances are creatine, myoglobin, aldolase, potassium, and lactate dehydrogenase. Left untreated, rhabdomyolysis can cause life-threatening damage to body organs, including kidney failure...

Health Article description.Acute kidney injury, also called acute renal failure, is the sudden loss of kidney function. When acute kidney injury occurs, the kidneys are unable to remove waste products and excess fluids, which then build up in the body and upset the body's normal chemical balance. The most common causes of acute kidney injury are...

Health Article description.The stages of chronic kidney disease are determined mostly by the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Glomerular filtration is the process by which the kidneys filter the blood, removing excess wastes and fluids. The eGFR is a calculation...

Health Article description.Nephrologists are medical doctors who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the kidneys, such as inflammation of the kidneys, chronic kidney disease, or cancer. Nephrologists may further specialize in treating certain age groups, such as pediatric nephrologists, who only treat children. Nephrologists...

Health Article description.An abdominal X-ray is a picture of structures and organs in the belly (abdomen). This includes the stomach, liver, spleen, and large and small intestines. It also includes the diaphragm, which is the muscle that separates the chest and belly areas.

Health Article description.Laser photocoagulation and cryopexy are used to fix tears in the retina and prevent a retinal detachment. These methods work well to treat certain retinal tears. But some people will need future treatment for a tear in another part of the retina. You can usually receive these treatments in a doctor's office or an...

Health Article description.Vitrectomy is a surgery to remove the vitreous gel from the middle of the eye. It may be done when there is a retinal detachment or if blood in the vitreous gel (vitreous hemorrhage) does not clear on its own. Removing the vitreous gel gives your eye doctor better access to the back of the eye. This surgery is done by...

Health Article description.Rhabdomyolysis (say "rab-doh-my-AH-luh-suss") is a rare but serious muscle problem. When you have it, muscle tissue breaks down. This causes toxins to build up in the blood. If rhabdomyolysis is not treated, this toxic material can travel to...

Health Article description.Uremia (uremic syndrome) is a serious complication of chronic kidney disease and acute kidney injury (which used to be known as acute renal failure). It occurs when urea and other waste products build up in the body because the kidneys are unable to eliminate them. These substances can become poisonous (toxic) to the...