Have A General Knowledge of Dialysis

2015-10-04 02:00

Dialysis is a treatment for kidney failure. If kidney function has dropped to less than 15%, dialysis is always suggested for patients to replace kidney to filter the blood to remove excessive wastes and fluids in body.

At end stage of kidney disease, dialysis is needed for patients to help improve conditions to prolong life expectancy. Dialysis can eliminate wastes and fluids in blood from body, including salt, phosphorus and potassium. In addition, dialysis help make electrolyte in balance. Blood pressure also can be managed with dialysis.

There are two leading categories of dialysis: hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis.

Peritoneal dialysis

Your blood is cleaned inside your body. doctors will do surgery to place a plastic tube called a catheter into your abdomen (belly) to make an access. During the treatment, your abdominal area is slowly filled with dialysate through the catheter. The blood stays in the arteries and veins that line your peritoneal cavity. Extra fluid and waste products are drawn out of your blood and into the dialysate. There are two major kinds of peritoneal dialysis.

Hemodialysis

In hemodialysis, an artificial kidney (hemodialyzer) is used to remove waste and extra chemicals and fluid from your blood. To get your blood into the artificial kidney, the doctor needs to make an access (entrance) into your blood vessels. This is done by minor surgery to your arm or leg.

Dialysis can result in some side effects on patients, such as: low blood pressure, muscle cramps, skin problems, nausea and vomiting, headache, fatigue. Hence, patients on dialysis should pay attention to these symptoms in life and talk to doctors to alleviate them. If you need more information or have any question, welcome to leave a message or contact online doctors anytime. Reply will be given very soon for you.

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