Dialysis is an arrangement done to provide a person with the same functions as the kidneys. This is done when either one or both the kidneys fail to perform its functions. This is required on an urgent basis when some problem in the body has led to more than 90% failure of the kidneys. Dialysis can be done either at home or at the hospital as the situation demands. The doctor and the person affected are the best people to make this decision.

Dialysis need not be required till the end of one’s life. In case of severe kidney condition, after putting the kidneys on dialysis, there are times when the situation improves and dialysis can be removed after a while. Only in chronic cases, dialysis may be required till the end of life. In such cases opting to have kidney transplant is a better option.

There are two kinds of dialyses. They are:

Hemodialysis: In hemodialysis a hemodialyser is utilized to remove body waste. A hemodialyser is nothing but a make do arrangement for a kidney. The hemodialyser allows blood inside it, which is to be cleaned. An access point is created in the blood vessel by the doctor for the blood to travel towards the hemodialyser. At times a fistula is made by connecting a vein to an artery. If a fistula is not possible, then a graft is made using a plastic tube to connect the vein and the artery. Sometimes a catheter, which is a thin tube, is put inside the neck temporarily. The effectiveness of hemodialysis is dependent on the size of human body, the amount of waste created by the body on a daily basis and the type of hemodialyser that suits one’s body. Hemodialysis may be required three times in a week and duration of one dialysis may be 3-4 hours. High-flux hemodialysis takes lesser time.

Peritoneal Dialysis: Peritoneal dialysis allows the catheter to be positioned inside the body to give access to the blood stream. Dialysate is a fluid used to remove waste material from the bloodstream. The dialysate gets filled in the abdominal cavity via the catheter. The waste gets removed from the blood and goes into the dialysate. Continuous ambulatory and continuous cycling are the two types of peritoneal dialysis. The former is done without use of any machines, either at home or the place of work. A fixed amount of dialysate in a bag is put in the abdominal cavity also called peritoneal cavity via the catheter. After about 4 hours the dialysate is removed and thrown out. Each time a new dialysate bag is put. In Continuous cycling peritoneal dialysis, a cycler is used. Being similar to ambulatory dialysis, the cycle repeats a number of times.

Dialysis is an expensive treatment but helps in emergency cases. After a while successful transplant can enable a person to lead a normal life.

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