Essential Insights into Kidney Dialysis: What Patients Need to Know
This article offers comprehensive insights into kidney dialysis, explaining its importance, the stages of kidney disease, and the types of dialysis procedures. It highlights when dialysis becomes necessary and outlines potential risks associated with treatment, providing valuable information for patients and caregivers preparing for or undergoing dialysis.
The kidneys play a vital role in filtering waste, regulating blood pressure, balancing electrolytes like sodium and potassium, maintaining pH levels, and producing hormones that stimulate red blood cell production. When kidney function declines significantly, dialysis steps in to perform some of these critical tasks.
Chronic kidney disease progresses through five stages, with stages 1 to 3 generally considered mild. The most severe, stage 5, requires dialysis or a kidney transplant to sustain life.
Here are five essential facts about kidney dialysis:
Dialysis becomes necessary when kidneys lose 85-90% of their function, typically at stage 5 of chronic kidney disease. When the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) drops below 15, dialysis is indicated. GFR is assessed via blood tests measuring creatinine, factoring in age, size, and gender to determine kidney health.
Two main types of dialysis exist: hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. Hemodialysis, the more common type, involves blood being drawn through a machine that filters out waste and excess fluids. A surgically created fistula connects an artery and vein to access blood flow. Blood is circulated through the machine and then returned to the body.
Peritoneal dialysis involves filling the abdominal cavity with a special solution called dialysate via a catheter. Waste and extra fluids pass from the blood into the dialysate, which is then drained and discarded. This method allows for more flexibility and can often be performed at home.
Hemodialysis sessions typically last three to four hours, performed three times weekly. Peritoneal dialysis generally involves four to five hours of dwell time with dialysate. Both options can be done at dialysis centers or at home, depending on medical advice.
One risk associated with long-term dialysis is the development of kidney cysts, which may cause symptoms such as fever, back pain, hematuria, or tumor formation. Experts note that kidney cysts are more likely to result from chronic kidney disease itself rather than dialysis treatment.
