People who require dialysis have reached the point where they are experiencing end-stage kidney failure. This happens when a patient has lost about 90% of his or her kidney function. Therefore dialysis is needed in order to maintain a balance in the body.
What Dialysis Does
You can learn about dialysis treatment on the Internet if you need this type of therapy. By learning all you can about dialysis, you will better know what to expect. Basically, dialysis is designed to do the following:
* Remove extra water, salt, and waste from the body so that these substances do not accumulate
* Keep a safe level of specific chemicals flowing in the blood, such as bicarbonate, sodium, and potassium
* Assist in the control of blood pressure
Acute Kidney Failure
While kidney failure is usually considered permanent, this type of outcome is not set in stone. In some instances, such as acute kidney failure, dialysis is only required for a short duration. However, in end-stage kidney failure, dialysis is required for the remainder of a patient’s life. Sometimes, patients are added to a waiting list to receive a new kidney.
Types of Dialysis
When you learn about dialysis treatment you will discover that dialysis is performed either at home or at a medical facility. The doctor normally recommends the site for therapy. Both hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis are performed when implementing this type of care.
Hemodialysis
When hemodialysis is used, a hemodialyzer or artificial kidney is employed to get rid of additional fluids, chemicals, or waste from the blood. Hemodialysis treatments last for about four hours per session and are usually performed three times per week.
Peritoneal Dialysis
When peritoneal dialysis is performed, the blood is cleaned within the body. A catheter is first placed into the abdomen by way of surgery. During the treatment process, the peritoneal cavity is gradually filled, via the catheter, with a dialysate. Additional fluids and wastes are extracted from the blood – both of which flow into the dialysate. Like us on facebook.
