KIDNEY DIALYSIS

Dialysis is a procedure needed when your kidneys are not functioning correctly. Waste products would begin to build up in our bodies causing nausea, vomiting, muscle cramps, lack of appetite, or itching. These symptoms are known as uraemia.

Dialysis is used whereby it cleans the blood and gets rid of all toxins and excess water, doing the job our kidneys should do. If dialysis is needed the patient would have a disease known as “end stage renal disease”.

There are two different types of dialysis:

·        HAEMODIALYSIS, this is where an artery is used to drain the blood away from the body into a machine to be cleaned. The machine has two parts, one side has a fluid called dialysate in it, and the other side is for blood. A semi permeable membrane separates the two. Blood is filtered and waste particles pass through a membrane which is then washed away by the dialysate. Blood cells are too big to cross over the membrane so they are retuned to the body. This needs to be done at least three days a week for up to five hours a time.

·        PERITONEAL DIALYSIS, this is a tube (catheter) that is surgically inserted into the stomach of the patient. The patients own peritoneal membrane is used as a filter. This is like the machine whereby this is too semi -permeable. Dialysate fluid is poured into the catheter and the waste products are then filtered out through the membrane walls and into the dialysate. This is then drained off, and more fluid is added.  This method may result in at least 8 hours a day 3/4 days a week.