Also known as: kidney dialysis
The primary objective of dialysis is to support impaired kidney function. When your kidneys are compromised, they lose their ability to efficiently remove waste and excess fluids from your bloodstream. This leads to the accumulation of substances such as nitrogen and creatinine in your blood. If you have been diagnosed with chronic kidney disease (CKD), your physician will closely monitor these levels. Prior to undergoing dialysis, patients often experience weakness and discomfort. Dialysis alleviates these symptoms, representing its primary benefit.
Dialysis involves the use of a specialized fluid known as dialysate. Dialysate is a carefully controlled mixture of pure water and chemicals designed to extract waste products from your blood while preserving essential substances your body needs. A semipermeable membrane, which has microscopic pores allowing only specific particles to pass through, separates your blood from the dialysate. This membrane permits the passage of waste and excess fluid from your blood into the dialysate, while larger molecules like essential proteins are retained. There are two primary types of kidney dialysis: hemodialysis (HD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD).
