If you have kidney disease or renal (kidney) failure, you may benefit from a treatment called dialysis.
According to the National Kidney Foundation, dialysis can help your body get rid of waste and extra fluid in your blood. Dialysis also regulates minerals in the blood, including calcium, sodium, potassium and more. Also, dialysis can help keep your blood pressure regulated.
Patients can receive dialysis at home, in a dialysis center or the hospital. Some patients may only need dialysis for a short time if they have an acute kidney injury or acute kidney disease. Other patients may need dialysis for the rest of their life or until they can receive a kidney transplant.
Types of Dialysis
Hemodialysis
Hemodialysis uses a machine with a filter (dialyzer) to remove extra fluid and waste from your blood before returning the cleansed blood to your body. Before receiving your first hemodialysis treatment, a vascular access site will need to be opened in one of your blood vessels.
Each hemodialysis treatment usually takes about four hours, and treatments can be completed at home or in a dialysis center. Most hemodialysis patients complete the treatment three or four times a week.
Peritoneal Dialysis
Peritoneal dialysis filters your blood inside your own body without requiring a dialyzer. Peritoneal dialysis uses the lining of your belly as a filter. Before your first peritoneal dialysis treatment, a catheter will be placed in your belly.
Peritoneal dialysis gradually fills your belly with dialysate, which is a fluid consisting of salt, water and additional additives. Your natural blood flow will allow the dialysate fluid to pull extra waste and fluid from your blood vessels to your stomach, and then the fluid is drained out of your stomach.
Each peritoneal dialysis treatment usually takes at least a few hours to complete, and treatments can be completed anywhere you have the necessary supplies. However, some patients need to complete multiple peritoneal dialysis treatments each day.
Side Effects of Dialysis
Side effects of dialysis can vary by type, but not everyone may experience side effects. Hemodialysis side effects can include:
- Blood loss
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Low blood pressure
- Muscle aches or cramps
Peritoneal dialysis side effects can include:
- Weight gain
- Hernia (swollen area or lump) in your belly
Although rare, any type of dialysis carries the risk of infection in your blood or skin. Infections can lead to sepsis if untreated, which can cause the failure of multiple organs and can be life-threatening.
Can Dialysis Cure Kidney Disease?
While dialysis can cleanse your blood by removing extra fluid and waste, it is not a cure for kidney disease or kidney failure since it cannot replace every single kidney function. For chronic kidney disease or kidney failure, a kidney transplant is the best treatment for most people.
Should you choose to have a kidney transplant, you can have a donated organ either from a living or deceased donor. Let UofL Health – Trager Transplant Center be your partner through your transplant journey. Our team was responsible for the first minimally invasive kidney donation in Kentucky, along with many other first-in-Kentucky transplants.
I Have Kidney Disease or Kidney Failure. What Should I Do?
If you have kidney disease or kidney failure, you can talk with your medical team about whether dialysis, other treatments or a kidney transplant is the best option for your health and wishes.
It is important for dialysis patients, as well as other patients with kidney disease or kidney failure, to do the following to optimize their health:
- Eat a healthy, kidney-friendly diet
- Exercise regularly
- Keep your medical team and pharmacist informed of any medications, supplements or herbal products you take
If you are on dialysis, you may still be able to travel since there are dialysis centers throughout the U.S. and in other countries. You will just need to make an appointment at a dialysis center near where you are visiting.
You can also still work while on dialysis. However, it is recommended to not work a job that involves strenuous labor or requires heavy lifting.
UofL Health is Here for You
UofL Physicians – Nephrology is your home for kidney care. See our list of Nephrology locations to find one close to you.
At Trager Transplant Center, more patients leave our center every year with a renewed lease on life than any other program in the region. One of the leading providers of advanced kidney disease and transplantation care in the country, we make it our mission to improve and save lives. Call 502-587-4939 to schedule an appointment.
