Dialysis
Dialysis, like kidney, is a treatment used to filter the waste and water from a human’s body. It is an artificial way of cleaning the blood by removing the toxins. When a person suffers from chronic or acute chronic renal failure than “Dialysis,” is used to perform the functions of the kidney.
How Does Haemodialysis Work?
Hemodialysis is one type of dialysis treatment for kidney failure, which uses a dialysis machine to clean your blood.
Step 1:A dialysis nurse or technician places two needles in the patient’s arm from where the passes through a filter into a soft tube connected between the needle and the dialysis machine.
Step 2:The dialysis machine then pumps the blood through the filter and returns the filtered blood back into the body. During the process, the machine keeps a regular check on the patient’s blood pressure and controls
- The blood flow process in the filter
- Removes the fluid from the body
How Does Chronic Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis Works?
Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) is performed to remove chemicals, wastes, and extra fluid from your body.
Step 1:During CAPD, a dialysis nurse or technician injects a liquid called dialysate into your abdomen through a catheter (thin tube). The dialysate extracts chemicals, wastes, and extra fluid from your blood through the peritoneum (thin lining on the inside of your abdomen).
Step 2:The peritoneum acts as a filter as the wastes are pulled through it. The exchange process involves the filling and emptying of your abdomen with dialysate. These exchanges are done 3 to 5 times during the day and maybe once during the night.
When Is Dialysis Needed?
A person needs dialysis when both of his kidneys are unable to remove enough wastes and fluid from the blood, which means only 10 to 15 percent of the kidney is functioning. A patient might experience symptoms like:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Swelling
- Fatigue
However, it may not be necessary that a patient will experience these symptoms; he/she can still have a high level of wastes in their blood that may be toxic. A doctor can evaluate a patient based on current health conditions and if required, will advise the use of dialysis.
