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Dr. Eric M. Luitweiler, MD is a nephrologist in Seattle, WA specializing in nephrology (kidney disease). He graduated from Donald and Barbara Zucker at Hofstra Northwell in 2018 and has 8 years of experience. Dr. Eric M. Luitweiler, MD is affiliated with Providence, Swedish Medical Center, Swedish Health Services and Swedish Nephrology - First Hill.
Dialysis
Dialysis is a procedure that replicates renal (kidney) function by filtering patients' blood. When kidneys do not work properly, waste can accumulate in the blood and unbalanced chemicals can impair the body's critical functions. In order to stay healthy, a person without proper kidney function must receive dialysis. There are two forms of dialysis treatment: hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. Both forms of dialysis are recurring treatments that in many cases last throughout the lifetime of the affected patient. Patients who briefly lose renal function may slowly reduce the frequency of dialysis sessions until their kidneys recover. However, most patients who start on dialysis remain on dialysis for the rest of their lives or until they receive a kidney transplant.
A number of conditions can worsen renal function and lead to end-stage or acute kidney failure. When kidneys fail (i.e. nearly 90 percent of their function is lost), dialysis is typically prescribed. Conditions that cause chronic kidney failure (eventually requiring dialysis) include:
For hemodialysis (the more common form of dialysis), a patient will visit a hospital or clinic and be connected to a dialysis machine by a needle attached to a tube that draws blood from the arm. The drawn blood is transferred to the dialysis machine, where it is filtered and separated until clean. Waste products from the blood pass into a fluid called dialysate, which is pumped out of the machine into a waste receptacle. The machine also measures and helps ensure the blood has the appropriate level of fluid, electrolytes, and pH. A tube delivers the cleaned blood back into the patient's body. A dialysis session like this will typically last for three to four hours, with a patient undergoing dialysis around three times per week.
A second method of dialysis is known as peritoneal dialysis. Unlike hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis can be performed at home by oneself after an initial surgery. To start, a physician (generally a surgeon) will make a small incision in the lower abdomen and insert and surgically attach a catheter (thin tube). At home, the patient connects a pump to the abdomen catheter, delivering dialysate (dialysis fluid) from a bag hanging on a wheeled stand. This fluid enters the peritoneal cavity (greater abdomen area containing the stomach, liver, and intestines) and collects waste through osmosis, where waste in the blood moves across a membrane and into the dialysate. This process continues for several hours until the fluid concentration is equal between the blood and dialysate, at which point the fluid can be drained. The fluid can then be passed through a machine called a cycler, which removes waste and allows for the dialysate to be reused. This process is repeated about four times per day. Dialysis patients must limit the amount of fluid they consume prior to receiving dialysis and should also avoid eating salty foods. The cycler cannot filter more than a certain amount of waste products from the blood.
Kidneys are important organs, and dialysis treatments are vital for those with renal dysfunction. For many, dialysis is not so much a medical procedure but a part of their normal life.
Kidney Stones
Kidney stones are hard deposits that form in the kidneys, made up of minerals that are normally present in urine. They can vary in size, from as small as a grain of sand to as large as a nickel, occasionally even larger. Sometimes they lodge in the kidney, and sometimes they break free and make their way out through the urinary tract, which can be extremely painful.
Kidney stones can be smooth or jagged and are yellow to brown in color. They are mostly comprised of the minerals calcium, oxalate, and phosphorus. Examining the stones to see what they are made of can show what caused the stone to be formed in the first place. For example, a stone made of mostly calcium, which is the most common type, can happen any time the urine becomes too concentrated due to dehydration or a blockage in the kidney. A uric acid stone forms when acid levels in the urine get too high, usually due to excessive consumption of animal protein such as meat and fish. A struvite stone is a sign of certain infections, and a cystine stone can be due to a genetic disorder that raises the risk of kidney stones.
The most common symptom of kidney stones is pain, either in the back or lower abdomen, or severe pain when urinating. There may also be blood in the urine. Treatment for kidney stones depends on how large the stone is. Very small stones can pass out of the body on their own, and they do not require treatment other than drinking adequate water and taking pain killers. Larger stones need to be broken apart and removed. The main treatment options are:
People who have had one kidney stone are at risk of developing another. To reduce this risk, patients are given instructions specific to the type of stone they developed. Generally the instructions will include drinking more water to dilute the urine, but it may also involve lowering sodium intake or eating less meat.
Peritoneal Dialysis
Peritoneal dialysis is a procedure that imitates renal (kidney) function by filtering patients' blood. When the kidneys do not work properly, waste can accumulate in the blood and unbalanced chemicals can impair the body's critical functions. In order to stay healthy, a person without proper kidney function must receive dialysis. There are two forms of dialysis treatment: hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. Both forms of dialysis are recurring treatments that in many cases last throughout the lifetime of the affected patient.
Peritoneal dialysis can be performed at home by oneself after an initial surgery. To start, a physician (generally a surgeon) will make a small incision in the lower abdomen and insert and surgically attach a catheter (thin tube). At home, the patient connects a pump to the abdomen catheter, delivering dialysate (dialysis fluid) from a bag hanging on a wheeled stand. This fluid enters the peritoneal cavity (greater abdomen area containing the stomach, liver, and intestines) and collects waste through osmosis, where waste in the blood moves across a membrane and into the dialysate. This process continues for several hours until the fluid concentration is equal between the blood and dialysate, at which point the fluid can be drained. The fluid can then be passed through a machine called a cycler, which removes waste and allows for the dialysate to be reused. This process is repeated about four times per day. Dialysis patients must limit the amount of fluid they consume prior to receiving dialysis and should also avoid eating salty foods. The cycler cannot filter more than a certain amount of waste products from the blood.
Kidneys are important organs, and peritoneal dialysis can be vital for those with renal dysfunction. Peritoneal dialysis may be a more convenient alternative to hemodialysis, which requires going into a clinic.
Dr. Eric M. Luitweiler, MD graduated from Donald and Barbara Zucker at Hofstra Northwell in 2018. He completed residency at California Pacific Medical Center Internal Medicine Department. He is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine, Internal Medicine American Board of Internal Medicine, Nephrology and has a state license in Washington.
Medical School: Donald and Barbara Zucker at Hofstra Northwell (2018)
Residency: California Pacific Medical Center Internal Medicine Department (2021)
Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Internal Medicine American Board of Internal Medicine, Nephrology
Licensed In: Washington
Dr. Eric M. Luitweiler, MD is associated with these hospitals and organizations:
Dr. Eric M. Luitweiler, MD appears to accept the following insurance providers: Humana PPO, Aetna PPO, Cigna PPO, HCSC HealthSpring Medicare Advantage HMO/PPO, Health Smart PPO, Wellpoint Medicare Advantage, Humana Medicare Advantage, Regence BlueShield Of Washington TRIWEST, Wellpoint Medicaid, Humana Medicaid, United Healthcare Medicaid, United Behavioral Health Medicare Advantage-HMO, United Healthcare PPO, Providence Health Plan Medicare Advantage-HMO, Humana HMO, First Health-Coventry PPO, Kaiser, Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO/PPO, Carelon PPO, Regence BlueShield Of Washington PPO, Premera, Evernorth PPO, Seven Corners, Ambetter Casecade Select, Health Net Tricare, First Choice PPO, Pacific Medical Center TRICARE, Interplan PPO, TRICARE, Cigna, Ambetter Cascade Select, Ambetter Cascade Care and Regence BlueShield of Washington PPO.
According to our sources, Dr. Eric M. Luitweiler, MD accepts the following insurance providers:
Dr. Eric M. Luitweiler, MD has an exceptional overall rating with an average of 5.0 out of 5 stars based on 28 ratings. We collect ratings and reviews of Dr. Eric M. Luitweiler, MD from all over the web to help you find the right in Seattle, WA.
Dr. Eric Luitweiler practices nephrology (kidney disease). Areas of expertise for Dr. Luitweiler include partial nephrectomy, polycystic kidney disease, and glomerulonephritis. He is affiliated with Providence and Swedish Medical Center. Dr. Luitweiler attended Hofstra University School of Medicine and subsequently trained at California Pacific Medical Center for residency. On average, patients gave him a rating of 5.0 stars (out of 5). Dr. Luitweiler accepts several insurance carriers, including HealthSmart, Coventry, and CIGNA Plans. According to Yext, he is currently accepting new patients at his office in Seattle, WA.
