Peringottukkara Dialysis Centre

What is kidney dialysis ?

The kidneys are responsible for filtering waste products from the blood. Dialysis is a procedures that is a substitute for many of normal duties of the kidneys. The kidneys are two organs located on either side of the back abdominal cavity . Dialysis can allow individuals to live productive and useful lives, even though their kidneys lo longer work adequately.

When is dialysis needed ?

You need dialysis when you develop end stage kidney failure – usually by the time you lose about 85 to 90 percent of your kidney function

What does dialysis do ?

Like healthy kidneys, dialysis keeps your body in balance.
Dialysis dose the following:

Removes waste, salt and extra water to prevent them from building up in the body.
Keeps a safe level of contain chemicals in your blood, such as potassium, sodium and bicarbonate helps to control blood pressure .

What is hemodialysis?

Hemodialysis is procedure in which a machine filters harmful waste and excess salt and fluid from your blood. A needle is inserted into your arm through a special access point. Your blood is then directed through the needle to a machine called a dialyzer, which filters your blood a few ounces at a time. The filtered blood returns to your body returns to your body through another needle.

Who needs hemodialysis ?

If your kidney are failing, you may need dialysis to help control your blood pressure and maintain the proper balance of fluid and various chemicals - such as potassium and sodium – in your body. Dialysis also helps your body maintain the proper acid-base balance. Sometimes kidney failure is caused by a specific kidney disease. In other cases, it’s a complication of another condition, such as:

Diabetes
High blood pressure (hypertension)
Kidney inflammation (glomerulonephritis)
Inflammation of blood vessels (vasculitis)
Polycystic kidney dieses

Before you start hemodialysis, a surgeon creates a vascular access point for blood to leave for cleansing and then reenter your body during treatment. There are three types of access points.

How do you care for the access point ?

Vascular access is a vital part of hemodialysis. Take special care to prevent injury and infection:

Keep the access area clean
Don’t use the arm with the access point for blood pressure readings or to draw blood samples not associated with the dialysis treatment.
Don’t lift heavy objects or put pressure on the arm with the access point.
Don’t cover the access point with tight clothing or jewelry.

What about medication ?

While you’re receiving hemodialysis, you’ll like need various medications :

Blood thinners to prevent clots in the hemodialysis machine and tubing
Blood pressure medication to control your blood pressure
Erythropoietin to stimulate your bone marrow to produce new red blood cells
Calcium, iron and other nutritional supplements to control the level of certain nutrients in your blood.
Phosphate binders to prevent the buildup of phosphorus in your blood
Stool softeners and laxatives to manage constipation
Your doctor will do frequent blood tests to monitor your condition

What are the potential complications of hemodialysis ?

Kidneys play a role in many of body’s systems. When kidneys stop working, these other system don’t work as well as they did before. This can lead to various complication including:

Lack of red blood cells (anemia)
Bone diseases
High blood pressure
Fluid over load
Inflammation of the membrane surrounding the heart (pericarditis)
High potassium levels, which can affect your heart rhythm
Nerve damage
Infection
Heart diseases