Kidney Dialysis - A Look at the Most Common Kidney Dialysis Questions

Interesting Facts about Kidney Dialysis1. Hemodialysisaccess. During the treatment, your abdominal area
and peritoneal kideny dialysis have been done since(called the peritoneal cavity) is slowly filled with
the mid 1940's.2. The federal government pays 80dialysate through the catheter. The blood stays in
percent of all kidney dialysis costs for mostthe arteries and veins that line your peritoneal cavity.
patients.3. Since the 1960s, surveillance studies haveExtra fluid and waste products are drawn out of
consistently shown that American kidney dialysisyour blood and into the dialysate. There are two
patients do not live as long as those in othermajor kinds of peritoneal kidney dialysis.What are the
countries...the U.S. mortality rate for dialysis patients isdifferent kinds of peritoneal kidney dialysis and how
about 23 percent, twice the rate of patients indo they work?There are several kinds of peritoneal
Western Europe or Japan.4. According to Thekidney dialysis but two major ones are: Continuous
National Center for Health Statistics kideny dialysisAmbulatory Peritoneal Dialysis (CAPD) and Continuous
survival rates are as follows:1 Year - 77%Cycling Peritoneal Dialysis (CCPD).Continuous
5 Years - 28%Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis (CAPD) is the only
10 Years - 10%5. About 90 percent of dialysistype of peritoneal dialysis that is done without
patients receive hemodialysis, in which the blood ismachines. You do this yourself, usually four or five
circulated outside the body and cleaned inside atimes a day at home and/or at work. You put a bag
machine before returning to the patient.6.Kidneysof dialysate (about two quarts) into your peritoneal
process 18 gallons of blood each hour with acavity through the catheter. The dialysate stays
sophisticated method of excretion, absorption andthere for about four or five hours before it is drained
re-absorption. By the end of each day, they canback into the bag and thrown away. This is called an
produce as much as 7 gallons of urine.What is Kidneyexchange. You use a new bag of dialysate each time
Dialysis?Kidney Dialysis is a treatment that does someyou do an exchange. While the dialysate is in your
of the things done by healthy kidneys. It is neededperitoneal cavity, you can go about your usual
when your own kidneys can no longer take care ofactivities at work, at school or at home.Continuous
your body's needs.When is kidney dialysisCycling Peritoneal Dialysis (CCPD) usually is done at
needed?You need kidney dialysis when you develophome using a special machine called a cycler. This is
end stage kidney failure, usually by the time you losesimilar to CAPD except that a number of cycles
about 85 to 90 percent of your kidney function.What(exchanges) occur. Each cycle usually lasts 1-1/2
does kidney dialysis do?Like healthy kidneys, kidneyhours and exchanges are done throughout the night
dialysis keeps your body in balance. Kidney Dialysiswhile you sleep.Will kidney dialysis help cure the
does the following:-removes waste, salt and extrakidney disease?No. Kidney dialysis does some of the
water to prevent them from building up in thework of healthy kidneys, but it does not cure your
body-keeps a safe level of certain chemicals in yourkidney disease. You will need to have dialysis
blood, such as potassium, sodium and bicarbonate-treatments for your whole life unless you are able to
helps to control blood pressureIs kidney failureget a kidney transplant.Is kidney dialysis
permanent?Not always. Some kinds of acute kidneyuncomfortable?You may have some discomfort
failure get better after treatment. In some cases ofwhen the needles are put into your fistula or graft,
acute kidney failure, kidney dialysis may only bebut most patients have no other problems. The
needed for a short time until the kidneys getkidney dialysis treatment itself is painless. However,
better.In chronic or end stage kidney failure, yoursome patients may have a drop in their blood
kidneys do not get better and you will need kidneypressure. If this happens, you may feel sick to your
dialysis for the rest of your life. If your doctor saysstomach, vomit, have a headache or cramps. With
you are a candidate, you may choose to be placedfrequent treatments, those problems usually go
on a waiting list for a new kidney.Where is kidneyaway.How long has kidney dialysis been
dialysis done?Kidney Dialysis can be done in a hospital,available?Hemodialysis and peritoneal kidney dialysis
in a kidney dialysis unit that is not part of a hospital,have been done since the mid 1940's. Kidney Dialysis,
or at home. You and your doctor will decide whichas a regular treatment, was begun in 1960 and is
place is best, based on your medical condition andnow a standard treatment all around the world. CAPD
your wishes.Are there different types of kidneybegan in 1976. Thousands of patients have been
dialysis?Yes, there are two types of kidney dialysishelped by these treatments.How long can you live on
--hemodialysis and peritoneal kidney dialysis.What iskidney dialysis?We do not yet know how long
hemodialysis?In hemodialysis, an artificial kidneypatients on kidney dialysis will live. We think that
(hemodialyzer) is used to remove waste and extrasome dialysis patients may live as long as people
chemicals and fluid from your blood. To get yourwithout kidney failure.Is kidney dialysis
blood into the artificial kidney, the doctor needs toexpensive?Yes. Kidney Dialysis costs a lot of money.
make an access (entrance) into your blood vessels.However, the federal government pays 80 percent
This is done by minor surgery to your arm orof all kidney dialysis costs for most patients. Private
leg.Sometimes, an access is made by joining anhealth insurance or state medical aid also help with
artery to a vein under your skin to make a biggerthe costs.Do kidney dialysis patients feel normal?Many
blood vessel called a fistula.However, if your bloodpatients live normal lives except for the time needed
vessels are not adequate for a fistula, the doctorfor treatments. Kidney Dialysis usually makes you feel
may use a soft plastic tube to join an artery and abetter because it helps many of the problems caused
vein under your skin. This is called a graft.Occasionally,by kidney failure. You and your family will need time
an access is made by means of a narrow plasticto get used to kidney dialysis.Do kidney dialysis
tube, called a catheter, which is inserted into a largepatients have to control their diets?Yes. You may be
vein in your neck. This type of access may beon a special diet. You may not be able to eat
temporary, but is sometimes used for long-termeverything you like, and you may need to limit how
treatment.How long do hemodialysis treatmentsmuch you drink. Your diet may vary according to the
last?The time needed for your kidney dialysistype of kidney dialysis.Can kidney dialysis Patients
depends on:-how well your kidneys worktravel?Yes. Kidney Dialysis centers are located in
-how much fluid weight you gain betweenevery part of the United States and in many foreign
treatmentscountries. The treatment is standardized. You must
-how much waste you have in your bodymake an appointment for dialysis treatments at
-how big you areanother center before you go. The staff at your
-the type of artificial kidney usedUsually, eachcenter may help you make the appointment.Can
hemodialysis treatment lasts about four hours and iskidney dialysis patients continue to work?Many kidney
done three times per week.A type of hemodialysisdialysis patients can go back to work after they
called high-flux dialysis may take less time. You canhave gotten used to kidney dialysis. If your job has a
speak to your doctor to see if this is an appropriatelot of physical labor (heavy lifting, digging, etc.), you
treatment for you.What is peritoneal kidney dialysismay need to get a different job.Robert Hilley writes
and how does it work?In this type of kidney dialysis,for a number of health related websites and shares
your blood is cleaned inside your body. The doctorhis findings regularly through Ezine @rticles. Robert
will do surgery to place a plastic tube called acan be contacted at: RobertHilley.
catheter into your abdomen (belly) to make an