Dialysis for Kidney Failure

What is dialysis and what are the types of dialysis?

Kidneys work day and night to clean the blood and filter it free from toxins and other waste materials. In addition, kidneys also produce certain hormones related to bone health and blood production. When kidneys are unable to perform their function of waste removal from blood, the task has to be done artificially with the help of certain machines. This process is called dialysis.
Dialysis may be of two types:
Haemodialysis: A machine (artificial kidney) is used to filter the blood. The process is performed in a hospital/clinic setting several times a week.
Peritoneal dialysis: This lesser performed procedure makes use of the peritoneal membrane, that is the lining of the abdomen, to filter blood.

When is dialysis needed?
Dialysis is performed when the kidneys are unable to remove enough wastes and fluid from the blood, or when the kidney function is reduced to 10-15%, in a condition called “kidney failure or renal failure”. Kidney failure maybe acute (sudden) or chronic (long term). It may be accompanied with symptoms like:

1. Nausea
2. Vomiting
3. Swellings
4. Tiredness

Even in the absence of any symptoms, there may be high level of wastes in the blood that need to be removed. Generally, in cases of acute renal failure, dialysis may be required temporarily for a short period (e.g. in cases with renal injury, certain heart conditions of poisoning) or till the underlying cause is treated. A nephrologist is the best person to decide when to start dialysis.