Dialysis works by filtering toxins, waste and fluid from your blood through a semipermeable membrane. The 2 types of dialysis, hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis, use different methods to filter blood. With hemodialysis, the filtering membrane is called a dialyzer and is inside a dialysis machine.
How is kidney function different from dialysis?
The primary job of the kidneys is to remove excess fluid and waste from the bloodstream. When your kidney function is below 15 percent of normal, you need dialysis to filter these items from your blood.
What is the process for kidney dialysis?
A pump in the hemodialysis machine slowly draws out your blood, then sends it through another machine called a dialyzer. This works like a kidney and filters out extra salt, waste, and fluid. Your cleaned blood is sent back into your body through the second needle in your arm.
What are the benefits of dialysis?
Peritoneal Dialysis
What is the downside of dialysis?
Another drawback of peritoneal dialysis is that the dialysis fluid used can cause a reduction in protein levels, which can lead to a lack of energy and, in some cases, malnutrition. Weight gain is also a possible side effect.
How long can a person on dialysis live?
Life expectancy on dialysis can vary depending on your other medical conditions and how well you follow your treatment plan. Average life expectancy on dialysis is 5-10 years, however, many patients have lived well on dialysis for 20 or even 30 years.
What happens when dialysis no longer works?
Without dialysis, toxins build up in the blood, causing a condition called uremia. The patient will receive whatever medicines are necessary to manage symptoms of uremia and other medical conditions. Depending on how quickly the toxins build up, death usually follows anywhere from a few days to several weeks.
How long can you live with end stage renal disease?
Many people with ESRD who receive dialysis regularly or have a kidney transplant can often live long, healthy, active lives. The life expectancy for a person receiving dialysis is around 5–10 years, though many live for 20–30 years.
What happens to the body when the kidneys shut down?
If your kidneys stop working completely, your body fills with extra water and waste products. This condition is called uremia. Your hands or feet may swell. You will feel tired and weak because your body needs clean blood to function properly.
What is the first organ to shut down?
The brain is the first organ to begin to break down, and other organs follow suit.
What causes the kidneys to shut down?
Kidneys can become damaged from a physical injury or a disease like diabetes, high blood pressure, or other disorders. High blood pressure and diabetes are the two most common causes of kidney failure. Kidney failure does not happen overnight. It is the end result of a gradual loss of kidney function.
Can kidneys start working again after shutting down?
The good news is that acute kidney failure can often be reversed. The kidneys usually start working again within several weeks to months after the underlying cause has been treated.
