The difference between the two professions Nephrology and Urology lies in the subtle but significant difference between the two fields. Also, their mode of study and practice. Therefore, an explanation of each discipline and what they entail has been discussed below.
Nephrology:
It is the field that studies the precise diagnosis and furthers the treatment of kidney disease. Also, it studies inflammation, chronic conditions, drugs, the complication of various conditions, hypertension, the effects of hypertension on renal function, and the effects of diabetes mellitus on the renal system. However, Nephrology studies the capacity of the kidney to healthily filter out the harmful constituents of the blood. So, a nephrologist doctor studies electrolyte disorders (disorders of imbalance in the electrolyte) like disarrangement of sodium, potassium, or calcium in the body.
Treatment Methods by Nephrologists
The above disorders are controlled by non-surgical methods by nephrologists. Therefore, for kidney stones, nephrologists also suggest non-surgical management before advising the patient to undergo surgical treatment. This is done with the help of medications. Also, in the case of renal stones, medications that help break down the constituents that make up the stone. Other alternative techniques and lifestyle modifications boost overall health and well-being as well as improve renal function.
The follow-up of patients diagnosed with end-stage renal disease is also conducted by a nephrologist doctor.
In most cases, nephrologists also facilitate a patient with renal failure to acquire a healthy donor kidney for transplant.
The services offered by a nephrologist are:
1. Monitoring of blood pressure
2. Renal disease management in acute CDV
3. Kidney failure, hypertension, glomerulonephritis, pregnancy-related renal disease, polycystic kidney, haematuria, stones, and proteinuria, transplant.
4. Dialysis treatments for the treatment of patients that are in the final stage of kidney failure.
When the loss is almost 85-90 percent kidney function, along with a GFR of less than 15 is monitored by a nephrologist.
Treatment can be in-house or on an outdoor patient basis.
5. Nephrologists also specialize in kidney transplants.
Urology:
They are doctors who have specialized in diagnosis as well as the treatment of diseases of the urinary system in both women and males as well as the reproductive system of males with its disorders. Urinary problems like incontinence, tumors, and cysts are treated by them. They also perform surgeries.
Urologists are kidney specialist doctors who usually focus on the anatomical aspects of urinary and male reproductive tracts. They also perform corrective surgeries if required.
Urologists treat the following:
1. Bladder
2. Urethra
3. Testes
4. Ureters
5. Adrenals
6. Kidney
7. Seminal vesicle
8. Epididymis
9. Prostate
10. Vas deferens
Urology deals with surgical treatments while the same is not true for nephrology. Additionally, this is also one of the prime differences. So for the super-specialty training in urology, a master’s in surgery is necessary
On the other hand, a nephrologist studies for a master’s in general medicine and then gets specialty training in nephrology. Their forte is diagnosis and non-invasive treatments.
A few procedures done by urologists are the following:
1. Urinary bladder
2. Anatomical kidney defects
3. Stones In the kidney
4. Anatomical renal defects
5. Male reproductive tract programs
Hence nephrologists specifically study renal function and treat renal disorders. Additionally, urologists study and treat urinary tract conditions and perform corrective surgery.
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