Dialysis

What is dialysis?

Dialysis is a medical treatment for patients with kidney failure. 

Your kidneys filter fluid and waste from your blood to maintain fluid and electrolyte balance. When you're in kidney failure, your kidneys are no longer able to perform this vital function. Fluids and waste buildup in your body, leading to a life-threatening situation. 

Dialysis takes over the function of your kidneys, removing the fluids and waste, keeping you alive. 

When do I need dialysis?

You need dialysis when you have end-stage renal disease (ESRD). That occurs when your kidneys lose 85-90% of their normal function. 

Hypertension Nephrology Associates, PC, specializes in diagnosing and managing chronic kidney disease (CKD) and ESRD. CKD is a progressive condition caused by damage to the kidneys. 

Your provider at Hypertension Nephrology Associates, PC, monitors kidney function and works with you to prevent your CKD from turning into ESRD. However, when your kidneys fail, the team will likely recommend dialysis. 

What are the types of dialysis?

There are two main types of dialysis: hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis.

Hemodialysis

During hemodialysis, an artificial kidney, or hemodialyzer, removes waste, toxins, and fluids from your blood. In order to have hemodialysis, you need vascular access or a fistula, which forms a connection between an artery and vein.

The hemodialysis machine removes blood from your body through the fistula, sends it through the hemodialyzer, and then returns it to your body through the access port. 

Hypertension Nephrology Associates, PC, offers vascular access management to make sure your fistula is always in good working order.

One hemodialysis treatment takes 3-4 hours, and you need treatment every three days. You can have hemodialysis at a dialysis center, or Hypertension Nephrology Associates, PC, can talk to you about home dialysis.

Peritoneal dialysis

With peritoneal dialysis, the blood filtering happens in your body. For this type of dialysis, your surgeon places a catheter that gives you access to the peritoneal cavity in your abdomen.

During treatment, you fill your cavity with a fluid called dialysate. The fluid pulls fluid and waste from your blood, and then you remove the dialysate from your body. You repeat this process up to four times a day and then sleep with the solution in your abdominal cavity at night.

Peritoneal dialysis is a type of home dialysis.

To find out more about dialysis, call Hypertension Nephrology Associates, PC, or schedule an appointment online today.