Hemodialysis

Hemodialysis is a medical procedure used to treat patients with kidney failure (end-stage renal disease). 

• It is a form of extracorporeal treatment option that helps to remove excess fluid and waste from the body.
• During hemodialysis, a patient’s blood is removed from the body through vascular access and sent to a dialysis machine. 
• This machine uses a filter/artificial kidney (called a dialyzer) to filter the blood. 
• With the principle of diffusion, a semipermeable membrane of the dialyzer filters the blood and removes water and waste products, such as urea, creatinine, and excess electrolytes. 
• The purified blood is then returned to the patient’s body.
• Typically, hemodialysis is performed for about 4 hours per session and three times a week. 
• The frequency and duration of hemodialysis depend on several factors, including the severity of kidney failure, the patient’s age, and overall health.
• It can be done in a dialysis center or at home with the help of a trained caregiver. In either case, the patient’s vital signs, such as blood pressure and heart rate, are closely monitored during the procedure to ensure safety.
• Even though hemodialysis is an effective way to treat kidney failure, it can sometimes cause emergencies like hypotension and hypertension, muscle cramps, allergic reactions to tubing and dialyzer membrane, dysequilibrium syndrome, etc.
• Additionally, hemodialysis patients may be more susceptible to infection and bleeding.

Moreover, hemodialysis is the first choice of kidney failure treatment worldwide, even though there are other treatment options like peritoneal dialysis and kidney transplantation. 

But, the choice of treatment depends on the patient’s circumstances and preferences.