HAEMODIALYSIS

•          Hemodialysis uses a special type of filter to remove excess waste products and water from the body.

•          Peritoneal dialysis uses a fluid that is placed into the patient's stomach cavity through a special plastic tube to remove excess waste products and fluid from the body.

•          During hemodialysis, blood passes from the patient's body through a filter in the dialysis machine, called a "dialysis membrane."

•          For this procedure, the patient has a specialized plastic tube placed between an artery and a vein in the arm or leg (called a "gortex graft").

•          Sometimes, a direct connection is made between an artery and a vein in the arm. This procedure is called a "Cimino fistula."

Needles are then placed in the graft or fistula, and blood passes to the dialysis machine, through the filter, and back to the patient. In the dialysis machine, a solution on the other side of the filter receives the waste products from the patient

What does the patient do during dialysis?

•          Treatment for hemodialysis takes place in a hemodialysis unit

. This is a special building that is equipped with machines that perform the dialysis treatment. Special equipment adds the proper materials to purified water for the dialysis machines

•          Patients generally go to the dialysis unit three times a week for treatment.

•          Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.

•           Before treatment, patients weigh themselves so that excess fluid accumulated since the last dialysis session can be measured.

•          Patients then go to assigned chairs that are like lounge chairs.

•          The area of the graft or fistula (the connection between the artery and vein), is cleaned thoroughly.

•          Two needles are then inserted into the graft or fistula.

•          One takes the blood to the machine where it is cleaned.

•          The other needle allows blood that is returning to the patient to go back into the patient's body.

•          Treatments last from 2 ½ to 4 ½ hours.

•          During this time, patient's blood pressure will be checked frequently and also the dialysis machine to ensure that the proper amount of fluid is being removed from the patients body.

•          Patients can read, watch television, sleep, or do other work during treatment.

•          Patient on dialysis have to follow the schedule about his dialysis.

•          Patient also have to take strict precaution about his diet and fluid control.