End-Stage Kidney Disease, Dialysis, and Transplant Basics

End-stage kidney disease (ESKD) and the transition to dialysis or kidney transplant are critical time points in the journey with chronic kidney disease (CKD) for children and their families. There is not a singular or clear pathway of treatment; rather, each treatment option contains both benefits and downsides affecting the physical and psychosocial well-being of the pediatric patient. The decision for which option is best is made together with the patient, family, and the medical and psychosocial teams. In this chapter, we aim to demystify the complexities of ESKD, describe the different types of dialysis options (hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis) and kidney transplantation, and explain specifically what to expect along the road of this stage of kidney disease.