This life-saving procedure is prescribed when both kidneys fail to filter and flush out toxins out of the blood naturally. Haemodialysis is a procedure where a dialysis machine and a filter called a dialyzer are used. An extracorporeal function, it removals waste products from the blood, including creatinine, urea, and water from the blood. Dialysis is a widely prescribed renal replacement therapy that enables immediate and instant clearance of toxic components.
Another type of dialysis is Peritoneal Dialysis, where the surgeon places a peritoneal catheter into the lining of the abdominal wall through laparoscopic surgery. This enables the patient to undergo dialysis without visiting the hospital. In this process, the peritoneal cavity or open spaces in the abdomen are filled with special cleansing dialysis fluid, which cleans the blood and drains it.
Who Needs Dialysis?
Dialysis is a life-saving procedure for patients combating Kidney failure. Kidney disease happens in five stages, and when the organs lose about 90 percent of the filtering capacity, it is diagnosed as end-stage kidney failure.
Dialysis serves as a maintenance therapy for patients suffering from Chronic Kidney Disease and awaiting a kidney transplant.
How Is Dialysis Done?
Haemodialysis is an extracorporeal procedure that contains a pump for drawing impure blood. It later sends it to another machine called a dialyzer which filters waste, salts, and other toxic elements. The waste via a needle is moved into the dialysis solution with clean water and other additives, thus returning the filtered blood back into the body through another needle in the arm.
Dialysis can be done in a hospital or in a dialysis center. In certain cases, the procedure can also be carried out at home. The length and sessions of the procedure depend on the patient’s health condition and the functioning of the kidneys.
On average, each session lasts about 3 to 4 hours, and the patient would be instructed to follow instructions on how to prevent infections in the fistula.