Last Updated: Oct 27, 2021
Dialysis performs the function of kidneys until they are functional. It is performed when the kidneys cannot function properly, a person needs to undergo to keep their body in balance. The process of dialysis removes waste, salt as well as the extra water, thus preventing them from accumulating in your body. It also ensures to keep certain chemicals in the blood like sodium, bicarbonate, and potassium within optimal levels. Lastly, it also helps in controlling blood pressure.
A healthy kidney has the function of filtering around 1500 liters of blood every day. If the kidneys fail to work properly, waste can accumulate in the blood. This can lead to serious health issues, resulting in coma and even death.
There are two different types of dialysis:
Dialysis can be done in the dialysis unit of the hospital or at your home. The doctor decides on the location based on your preferences and the status of your condition.
Hemodialysis
This is the most common form of dialysis. The doctor creates an incision so that the blood can flow to the artificial kidney or the hemodialyzer. The entrance point is made by creating a small incision in the arm or the leg. It can also be done by joining one of the arteries to a vein under the skin in order to make a bigger blood vessel known as a fistula.
This surgical entrance point allows a large amount of blood to flow from your body during the treatment. As a result, more blood is purified and filtered. This treatment usually lasts for three to five hours. A patient is generally required to undergo a hemodialysis thrice every week. This option generally works for people who require long-term treatment.
Peritoneal dialysis
This treatment involves implantation of a catheter in the area around the belly through which the fluid is administered to your body. The dialysate fluid draws out the waste from the blood, and then the waste is drained from your abdomen.
Peritoneal dialysis can be further classified into two types. One is the Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis, where the abdomen is filled and drained multiple times in a day. The other is the Continuous Cycler-Assisted Peritoneal Dialysis, where a machine is used for cycling the fluid in and out of the abdomen. It is generally done at night when the patient is sleeping.
Yes, can be stopped as per the decision made by the patient. It is advised to discuss the options with your medical professional.
When the kidney stops working and the stage of kidney failure develops and you lose about 85-90 percent of your kidney then the situation comes that you need dialysis.
If you have reached the stage of Chronic Kidney disease and the kidney starts getting damaged dialysis is needed. But the signs and symptoms of chronic kidney disease are not visible until the kidneys are damaged, badly. These are the symptoms caused when there is a requirement for dialysis:
Sometimes the kidney stops working suddenly thus, causing acute kidney failure. Here are the following symptoms:
If you suffer from any of these problems then you must consult your doctor.
You may need to undergo dialysis in the following conditions:
Dialysis is usually not recommended for the following people:
Usually dialysis is done 3 times a week and takes about 4 hours
If a person had acute kidney failure then it can get well with the process of dialysis. The kidney may also start working fine and you may not need dialysis again. But if you are suffering from chronic kidney failure then or at the end stage then dialysis becomes mandatory and is needed for the rest of your life.
In serious cases when the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) drops down or the kidneys have completely failed, only then the formation of urine stop, other than that the patient will continue to make urine in the body even after Dialysis.
The key function of Dialysis is to filter your blood. So when the fluid and waste products start to pile up in case the kidneys fail to filter the blood properly, Dialysis comes in handy. In the case of high blood pressure and diabetes, one is most likely to curve towards kidney failure.
Dialysis can have the following side effects:
Below are some of the post treatment guidelines of a dialysis patient:
Depending upon the time, Dialysis can lead to different side effects, some of them are:
In the case of hemo Dialysis, common side effects may include:
These side effects can be temporary and do not cause any major side effects. But hemoDialysis can also lead to serious repercussions like:
In the case of peritoneal Dialysis, side effects may include:
Long-term Dialysis can be tiring for the patient making them feel tired and sleepy. It is quite common among the patients, resulting in depression overlapping with fatigue and daytime sleepiness. It can be easily recovered via a fruitful diet recommended by your physician.
It is debatable to say whether sweating is effective for Dialysis patients or not. On one side sweating will release a high concentration of urea via sweat fluid, which at some level clears the blood. On the other hand, the quantity of urea released via thermal sweating is just one-quarter of the quantity that needs to be released within 24-hour urination by the human body.
So in conclusion, even though it may release a bit of toxin from your body, it is not fully efficient or useful if a patient undergoing Dialysis.
Yes, It has been seen that in case the patient has an underlying condition of cardiac disease may have a sudden heart attack during Dialysis. As the process often fluctuates blood pressure and sugar levels, one can be at risk of a cardiac condition.
The recovery time after undergoing a dialysis varies from person to person. For some it can be 2 hours, for some it is 4 to 6 hours and for few, it takes almost 12 hours to recover completely after the treatment.
A person who is going through dialysis regularly than the average life expectancy of the person becomes 5-10 years but that also depends upon the medical condition of the person that he/she is getting advantage from that process. However, in some cases, the patient can live up to 20-30 years also.
If a person is on dialysis and stops getting it lives only for an average of 10 days because the dirty liquid starts accumulating inside the body.
If dialysis stops working then the only option left is kidney transplant and if this does not work then the patient can die from this disease.
The most common cause of death in the dialysis patient is hyperkalemia and this situation often occurs when there are any missed dialysis or dietary indiscretion. If a person is suffering from cardiovascular disease along with kidney failure then the chance of the death of that person increases up to 10-29 times.
In case a patient cuts down on its calorie content, only then do Dialysis patients lose weight. Loss of appetite is not a good sign as it can be a sign of a serious problem or low survival rate.
The cost of getting hemodialysis can vary from Rs. 12,000 to Rs. 15,000 per month. Peritoneal dialysis can cost between Rs. 18,000 to Rs. 20,000 per month.
Dialysis can improve the condition of your kidneys and the quality of your life if the damage is in the initial stages. After a few sessions, you can stop the treatment. In the case of a chronic disorder, there is a possibility that you may need to undergo for the rest of your life.
The best and cheap alternative of dialysis is nanofiber mesh. This nanofiber mesh is made up of polyethylene-co-vinyl alcohol (EVOH), and this an absorb waste products from the blood.
Some herbal medicinal remedies include:
These vitamins help in flushing kidney:
Certain foods help in the cleaning of the kidney which, include:
Normally a person needs to drink almost 2 liter or 8 glasses of water every day in order to maintain the hydration level, but in case a person is undergoing Dialysis, one needs to limit their fluid intake to less than one liter or 32 ounces per day.
Foods with high fiber, caffeine, and preservatives can trigger the production of toxins in the blood. Here is a list of food items that should be avoided in case of Dialysis:
Summary: Dialysis can be defined as the purification of blood in case the kidney fails to do so in normal circumstances. There are three types of Dialysis named Peritoneal Dialysis, HemoDialysis, and CRRT.
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