Dialysis Treatment for Kidney Failure: Types and Care Guide

The kidneys are a crucial pair of organs located deep within your abdomen. They serve a major function in the body- they help filter blood and get rid of waste, which is then excreted in the form of urine. When the kidneys begin to fail and cannot work as well as before, countermeasures need to be taken, as toxins building up in the blood, with no way to get out of the body, can cause unwanted side effects in the long run and affect your health and other organ systems too. Dialysis treatment for kidney failure is an effective way to ensure that your quality of life is better than before. The number of individuals requiring dialysis in India is increasing majorly every year, and about 30 lakh of them have undergone treatment this year, according to a recent report. 

Types Of Dialysis

There are 2 types of dialysis that can be used, depending on the severity of kidney disease, presence of comorbid conditions, and other relevant factors: hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis, respectively. Dialysis in general, is used when you have kidney disease or end-stage kidney failure, where a machine is used to remove wastes and excess fluids from the blood. Compounds like urea, creatinine, various amino acids, and others need to be removed regularly from the body, or they can build up and cause other issues. You may require dialysis if you are diabetic, have an autoimmune condition like lupus, or have high blood pressure, as the probability of your kidneys getting damaged is pretty high with these chronic conditions. If your body is not able to tolerate dialysis well and kidney failure has progressed to a high level, then you may be recommended for a kidney transplant surgery. 

Hemodialysis Vs Peritoneal Dialysis

Hemodialysis is commonly recommended in most cases of kidney disease or failure. You are hooked to a machine with a tube that takes blood away from your body, from a vein. The blood then goes through several filters (a unit called a dialyser), and then a tube is again used to return clean, toxin-free blood back to your body. You can get hemodialysis done a few times a week, and each session can last anywhere between 3-7 hours per day. A surgeon will construct a fistula (a connection between a vein and an artery) in your arm, so that hemodialysis is faster and more efficient, but this procedure needs to be done way before dialysis can begin, as your blood vessels will need time to enlarge and get stronger and push blood better. The high pressure of arterial blood pushes into the vein, causing it to come closer to the surface. The vein walls become stronger and enlarged in area, so that blood flow becomes better and the dialysis needle can be repeatedly inserted, during each session.

Peritoneal dialysis is the second type, where a dialysate or filtering fluid is added to your peritoneum, which is the inner lining of the abdomen. You will be asked to remove or drain the dialysate into a bag that is connected to the outside of your body, so it can be thrown away. This needs to be done 4-5 times a day and for 30 minutes each. You will carry a bag of dialysate above your heart or shoulder, so that with gravity, the fluid can enter the peritoneum and an exchange of solutes or wastes can occur. This is manual, while an automated version of the same is also available- and this is normally done when someone is asleep. The time however, is longer and can take about 8-12 hours every night. 

Conclusion

Though dialysis is important for some individuals and good for you too, it is important to take proper precautions as repeated usage of a needle can increase your risk of getting an infection significantly.  Repeated hemodialysis can cause scar tissue to form or your fistula to stop working normally, causing your doctor to look for another entry site. With repeated sessions of peritoneal dialysis, you may have inflammation or even develop a hernia in severe cases. So, prioritize following dialysis care tips like eating and hydrating well, taking the requisite medications, and keeping your access site clean in the long term. You will also need enough emotional support to get through this stressful time. So, make sure to talk to a supportive doctor and have friends and family around, whenever possible.

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