Fighting chronic kidney disease is expensive and can cause both direct and indirect issues. Access to affordable prescription medication can reduce the total cost of managing the illness. In most developing countries, patients with chronic kidney disease fund their own treatment. Evidence of...
Read More... Sep 21, 2022Dialysis
Dialysis
Dialysis is the procedure to remove waste products, salt and excess fluid from the blood when the kidneys stop working.
The kidneys normally filter our blood, removing harmful waste products, salt and fluid and turn these into urine, which we then pass out of our body. If the kidneys are not functioning properly, for example if you are suffering with chronic kidney disease (renal failure), the kidneys are not able to clean the blood sufficiently.
A build up of waste products and excess fluid in the blood can be very dangerous and if left untreated it can cause some very serious life-threatening symptoms. The process of dialysis aids the body to filter out these unwanted substances.
There are two types of dialysis, the first hemodialysis, is the most common. In involves inserting a tube into the arm via a needle. The blood is then pumped into a machine where it is then filtered and cleaned. It is then passed back into the body via another needle in the arm. This process takes place at a dialysis center and takes on average 4 hours per session. Usually three sessions a week are required. You may be able to have hemodialysis at home, the sessions are usually more frequent, six/seven times a week, and shorter, lasting two to three hours each time.
The second type of dialysis is peritoneal dialysis. This procedure uses the inside lining of your abdomen, the peritoneum, as the filter instead of the machine. A cut is made into your abdomen and a tube called a catheter is inserted and left in place permanently. Fluid is pumped into the peritoneal cavity and the lining of the abdomen acts as a filter, drawing the waste products into the dialysis fluid. After a few hours, the used fluid is then drained into the bag and replaced with fresh fluid. Changing the fluid bag can take between 30 to 40 minutes and normally needs to be repeated four times a day.
In some cases, dialysis allows the kidneys to recover sufficiently to resume normal function, in others kidney failure will result in the need for a transplant. If you are not well enough for a kidney transplant, you may need to continue with dialysis for the rest of your life.
Deciding which treatment option is best for you will depend on you overall health, your home and support situation and your lifestyle. Your doctor will be able to advise you and help you to make the decision.
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