Video - What Does a Kidney Dialysis Access Look Like?

The most common type of kidney dialysis is the type known as hemodialysis, which cleans the blood of waste and toxins after the kidneys can no longer do it. In order for hemodialysis to work, of course, there has be be a way to deliver the patient's blood to a dialysis mechanism. This is done through an access tube.

As of 2007, more than 500,000 Americans were being treated for severe kidney problems that required dialysis or kidney transplantation. Approximately 370,000 of these kidney patients were undergoing dialysis on a regular basic. Transplantation and dialysis are the only two options for survival that are available to a patient with end stage renal disease (ESRD) or kidney failure.

This short but informative clip shows you exactly what this dialysis access tube looks like. Some viewers may feel somewhat uneasy with the video.

Learn more about how to cope with kidney dialysis by clicking on

Living With Kidney Dialysis