Hemodialysis what does it mean?
Have you just been told you need Hemodialysis? Why? How does it work? How long? These are
all valid and important questions.
Before dialysis can be understood, the role of the kidneys must be
understood.
Your kidneys are vital organs that sit near the middle of
your back, flanking each side of your rib cage. These organs work as a champion
filters removing waste products from your body. Once your body has broken down
its proteins the chemical Urea (yoo REE uh ) is the result. Along with Urea, excess water and other waste
materials must be excreted. Hence, these wastes are eliminated in the form of
urine. When you kidneys can no longer remove the body’s waste, dialysis is
prescribed.
Dialysis
is the artificial process of eliminating waste and excess water via an external machine. An artificial temporary or permanent access is surgically placed. A
temporary access is placed in a major artery located in the neck, chest or
groin. A permanent access is located in
the arm and sometimes in the groin. Two needles are used to tap the access.
These needles are connected to tubes that are threaded through the dialysis
machine. One tube carries the unclean blood to a filter located on the machine
called a dialyzer. This is often called your new kidney. Here the blood is cleaned
and excess water and salt is removed. The clean blood is now returned back to
the body via the second tube and needle.
This
process of filtration can take on the average of 3 to 4 hours per treatment
three times a week in an outpatient setting indefinitely, unless a kidney transplant
is appropriate or spontaneous return of function. However there is a growing
trend of in-home treatments and outpatient treatments done over a span of 8
hours (nocturnal dialysis). Research
demonstrates the nocturnal method as best therapy because of the lower demand.
Hemodialysis
is not the only option. Alternatives include, peritoneal dialysis and kidney
transplant. Whatever option you choose please
talk to your doctor to discover which option is best for you.
