The Nephrology-dialysis department treats patients with acute and chronic kidney problems. Patients are cared for by the consultation service and in the hospitalisation unit. The Nephrology-dialysis department also has an extensive dialysis department, that offers all the existing dialysis techniques (dialysis both in hospital and at home).
A skilled and motivated team of nephrologists and specialist nurses are ready to help kidney patients. The Nephrology-dialysis department also has a team of administrative and logistic assistants as well as dieticians who can assist patients in all areas.
What is Nephrology?
The kidneys are vital organs that have various functions in our body: they remove excess water and waste from the body and regulate the levels of numerous mineral salts (including sodium, potassium and calcium) in our blood. In addition, they play a role in the blood pressure control and the creation of red blood cells.
With the emergence of a kidney disease, the patients are usually asymptomatic. There may be occasional symptoms, including high blood pressure, swollen feet, blood in the urine or other urinary symptoms. These then lead to blood and urine tests, which may show up a kidney disease. A severe kidney disease may be accompanied by symptoms like fatigue, itching, or loss of appetite.
Finding the exact cause of the kidney disorder is a key factor in the monitoring and treatment of kidney disease. It may be diagnosed based on blood and urine testing, as well as imaging of the kidneys (ultrasound, CT scans). To reach a diagnosis, it may be necessary to perform a kidney biopsy, for which a small fraction of kidney tissue is collected for microscopical testing.
If the kidneys are working at less than about 10%, they are no longer managing to keep the blood clean. To prevent blood poisoning, a treatment that replaces kidney function needs to be started. We call this treatment dialysis or artificial kidney treatment. Dialysis removes the waste products and excess fluid from the body.
Treatments & Services
Specialists Nephrology & Dialysis
Roos Velde - Pannecoeck - Internist-Nephrologist
Jivika Verbist - Sewrajsing - Internist-Nephrologist
Drs. J.A Sewrajsing is an internist, focusing on nephrology. She followed the medicine training as well as the specialization at the VUMC.
She has worked for 5 years in the SLAZ, now better known as OLVG west, and is used to the multicultural society. Over the years she has worked at SEHOS at various times.
In the coming period, she will improve the predialysis process and will strive to improve preventive care on the island. Patient education and information are discussed during consultation hours.
Stijn Meurs - Internal Medicine -Nephrologist
Dr. Stijn van Meurs completed his registry training in internal medicine and nephrology at the Erasmus University in Rotterdam, in the Netherlands. He joins the staff of Curaçao Medical Center as a young and driven nephrologist. In addition, dr. van Meurs has a special interest in Ultrasound. Dr. van Meurs is fluent in Dutch and English and can also speak Papiamentu.
Drs. Amar Punwasi MD, Internist-Nephrologist
Drs. Amar Punwasi is an internist-nephrologist, who has further studied the clinical presentation, diagnosis and treatment of kidney diseases. He has extensive experience in the field of acute and chronic kidney damage, pre-dialysis, hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, transplant screening and post-transplant guidance.
For clients with chronic kidney damage, he pays attention to the many facets such as anemia and bone metabolism disorders. In addition, precisely because of the insidious nature of kidney diseases, he strives for a good explanation of the problems, to delay further deterioration of the kidneys. The supportive care and psychosocial guidance in the preparation for and guidance of kidney function replacement therapy (dialysis and transplantation) are also discussed.
In order to guarantee consistent quality for the patient, he works with the most recent guidelines and regularly attend international refresher courses. He is also a member of the ERA-EDTA and the Dutch Federation for Nephrology.