Things you need to know about Dialysis
Kidneys work day and night to clean the blood and filter it free from toxins and other waste materials. In addition, kidneys also produce certain hormones related to bone health and blood production. When kidneys are unable to perform their function of waste removal from blood, the task has to be done artificially with the help of certain machines. This process is called dialysis.
Dialysis may be of two types:
Haemodialysis: A machine (artificial kidney) is used to filter the blood. The process is performed in a hospital/clinic setting several times a week.
Peritoneal dialysis: This lesser performed procedure makes use of the peritoneal membrane, that is the lining of the abdomen, to filter blood.
Kidney Failure
Dialysis is performed when the kidneys are unable to remove enough wastes and fluid from the blood, or when the kidney function is reduced to 10-15%, in a condition called “kidney failure or renal failure”. Kidney failure maybe acute (sudden) or chronic (long term). It may be accompanied with symptoms like:
Even in the absence of any symptoms, there may be high level of wastes in the blood that need to be removed. Generally, in cases of acute renal failure, dialysis may be required temporarily for a short period (e.g. in cases with renal injury, certain heart conditions of poisoning) or till the underlying cause is treated. A nephrologist is the best person to decide when to start dialysis.
Some of the leading causes of acute kidney failure or renal failure include:
Some of the leading causes of chronic kidney failure include:
Haemodialysis makes use of a dialysis machine and a filter or the dialyzer which is often called as an artificial kidney. Patients are generally required to undergo ‘access’ preparation several weeks to months before haemodialysis is started. In this step, an ‘access’ or entrance is created surgically to allow the circulation of blood between the body and the dialyzer. The most common type of access is the primary arteriovenous fistula, where a direct connection between an artery and a vein is created. It is mostly created in the arm.
In case of chronic kidney failure where the kidneys have been permanently damaged, a patient will need to undergo dialysis treatment lifelong unless a kidney transplant is done. Life expectancy of a person on dialysis depends on many factors like underlying medical conditions, lifestyle and adherence to the prescribed treatment plan. Though life expectancy on dialysis is likely to be at least 5-10 years, it is seen that many patients may live well on dialysis for as long as 20-30 years on following healthy practices and adherence to treatment plan.
Patients may live well on dialysis for a long period
Dialysis can have some procedure-related side effects. Also, it being an artificial procedure, it can compensate for the loss of kidney function only partly. Some of the side effects are:
Haemodialysis can be carried out in hospital/clinic settings. Since haemodialysis is a life-long process, choosing a right setting is important. Some of the factors that should be considered while selecting a dialysis center include:
Trained professional nursing staff under a close supervision of a nephrologist and round the clock support services like diagnostics, dietary, pharmacy etc.
A special diet plan may be designed for patients on haemodialysis, to minimise the amount of fluid and waste accumulation between haemodialysis sessions. A dietitian can be consulted to determine the amount and type of food items needed, under supervision of a nephrologist.
Patients on haemodialysis are generally advised to consume a variety of nutritious foods, with a focus on high-quality proteins. On the other hand, food items high on sodium, phosphorus and potassium need to be restricted.
Haemodialysis Diet
Dialysis is generally advised for treatment of acute (short-term) and chronic (long-standing) kidney failure. Though patients may survive on dialysis for long periods, a kidney transplant is the definitive treatment in selected cases. In transplant, the patient’s diseased kidney is replaced with a healthy kidney of a related or unrelated donor.
Kidney transplant is a complex procedure that requires highly experienced team of surgeons and doctors, as well as advanced set-ups.
“The content of this publication has been developed by a third party content providerwho are clinicians and/or medical writers and/or experts. The information contained herein is for educational purpose only and we request you to please consult a Registered Medical Practitioner or Doctor before deciding the appropriate diagnosis and treatment plan.”