Hemodialysis what does it mean?

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.