Types of Kidney Dialysis

 
Kidney dialysis is often the only option for patients with end stage kidney failure. 

In the United States today, it's estimated that approximately 100,000 individuals undergo dialysis treatments. Without these treatments, they couldn't survive. 

Dialysis performs some of the functions that are normally done by healthy kidneys. However, it does them artificially and mechanically.

Kidney dialysis removes waste, salt and extra water. It also helps maintain a safe level of certain chemicals in the blood, including sodium and potassium. Furthermore, it helps control blood pressure.

Dialysis doesn't cure kidney disease. It's seems possible however, that some kidney dialysis patients may live as long as people who are not suffering from kidney failure.

Types of dialysis

There are two types of kidney dialysis: hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis.

Hemodialysis uses an artificial kidney. A doctor connects a patient's blood vessels to a kidney dialysis machine, often through minor surgery to an arm or leg.

Sometimes, it can be done by joining an artery to a vein under the skin. If this procedure isn't appropriate, the doctor may graft a soft plastic tube to join an artery and a vein together.

Occasionally, a narrow plastic tube will be inserted into a large vein in the neck. This type of access sometimes used for long-term treatment.

Each hemodialysis treatment lasts about four hours, and is done three times per week.

Peritoneal dialysis involves a procedure that cleans the blood while it's inside the body.

The doctor places a catheter into an area in the patient's abdomen which is known as the peritoneal cavity. The area is then filled with dialysate through the catheter. Fluids and waste products are drawn into the dialysate.

As mentioned above, dialysis may be needed for years. But sometimes it may be required only for a short time if the kidneys haven't failed permanently. In chronic or end stage kidney failure, however, dialysis is needed for the rest of he patient's life.

There are a number of places where dialysis can be done, including a hospital, a kidney dialysis unit outside a hospital, or even at home.

Many kidney dialysis patients can perform normally in their jobs once they become used to the routine required for dialysis, as long as those jobs don't require heavy lifting, digging, or other kinds of strenuous physical labor.

Kidney dialysis usually requires a special diet, which will vary according to the type of dialysis being done. 

Also see our related article about renal kidney dialysis in the United States.
 

 
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