Overview

Think how hard your kidneys work daily to keep your body healthy and balanced. They remove waste and excess fluid, maintain electrolyte balance, and create hormones for healthy body function. What happens, though, when your kidneys begin to fail? Enter haemodialysis, a potentially life-saving procedure that functions as an artificial kidney by eliminating waste and extra fluid from your blood. Your blood is filtered via a machine that utilises a specific membrane to remove waste materials and excess fluid during haemodialysis. This treatment can be life-changing for patients suffering from renal failure, offering them a second chance at life and the ability to continue doing what they enjoy. In this blog post, we will explore how haemodialysis acts as a saviour for those who suffer from kidney failure or are at the end stage of renal disease.

What is haemodialysis?

While healthy kidneys perform various bodily activities, the most well-known is urine production. When kidney function falls below 10% to 15%, the kidneys can no longer filter blood and produce urine. Toxins and extra fluid accumulate in the body as a result. In such cases, renal replacement therapy can replace kidney function and keep the body alive. Haemodialysis, or dialysis, is a kidney failure treatment wherein a machine purifies the blood, filters waste, and balances electrolytes within the patient's body.

How is haemodialysis done?

The haemodialysis procedure is typically conducted thrice weekly and lasts approximately three to four hours per session. During the operation, a patient's blood is extracted through an access point, commonly in the arm, filtered and returned to the body via a dialysis machine.

The access comes in three varieties: arteriovenous (AV) fistula, AV graft, and central venous catheter. The AV fistula is the dialysis community's most commonly suggested vascular access. However, it is up to the patient and their clinician to determine which access is best for them. When a patient is "placed on the machine," the dialysis machine is set up, and treatment begins. The dialysis machine includes a blood pump that maintains the blood moving by providing a pumping action on the blood tubes that transport the blood from the body to the dialyser and back to the body, as well as several safety-detecting measures. When you visit a dialysis centre, you may hear warning sounds emitted by a dialysis machine.

How does haemodialysis work?

The dialysis machine passes waste materials and excess fluids through a semipermeable membrane while preserving important blood components such as red blood cells and proteins. The haemodialysis procedure is divided into four major steps:

- Blood access: The initial stage in haemodialysis is to gain access to the patient's blood supply. This is accomplished by forming a fistula or graft in the arm that links an artery and a vein. After that, a needle is placed into the access site to extract blood from the body.
- Blood Filtration: When the blood is extracted, it is filtered via a dialysis machine, which removes waste items and excess fluids. A semipermeable membrane in the dialysis machine works as a filter, allowing waste materials and surplus fluids to flow through.
- Fluid Removal: One of the key functions of haemodialysis is the removal of excess fluids from the body. This is accomplished by varying the pace at which the dialysis machine extracts fluids from the blood. Blood Return: When the blood has been filtered and any extra fluids removed, it is returned to the patient's body via the access site.

What to expect during Haemodialysis?

Haemodialysis is a very successful treatment for kidney failure, but it can be a frightening experience for people who have never had the procedure before. These are some things to look forward to during haemodialysis: Preparation: The patient's weight and vital signs are documented before the surgery. The access site is cleansed before a needle is placed to take blood.

- Monitoring: Throughout the operation, the patient is continuously monitored for any symptoms of difficulties, such as changes in blood pressure, heart rate, or respiration.
- Dialysis Side effects: Some patients may develop nausea, vomiting, headaches, and muscular cramps during haemodialysis. These symptoms are frequently manageable with medication or changes to the dialysis equipment.
- Time Commitment: Haemodialysis treatments can last several hours, and patients are often expected to go thrice weekly. Lifestyle changes: Individuals undergoing haemodialysis may need to make lifestyle adjustments, such as adopting a diet and reducing fluid consumption. They may also require medication to control their condition.

When to Consult a Doctor

You can also get in touch with the expert nephrology doctors at Narayana Healthcare based in your city to get immediate attention and medical support during injuries, health disorders or any other health concern.

Conclusion:

Finally, haemodialysis is a life-saving medical technique for kidney failure patients. It uses a dialysis machine to remove waste materials and excess fluids from the blood. Patients undergoing dialysis should expect to be in the hospital for many hours, but the process can considerably enhance their quality of life. Speak with your doctor or a skilled medical expert if you have any questions regarding haemodialysis.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q. How is haemodialysis done, and how it works? A. A machine takes blood from your body, filters it through a dialyser (artificial kidney), and returns the cleansed blood to your body in hemodialysis. This 3 to the 5-hour procedure may be performed thrice weekly in a hospital or a dialysis clinic.

Q What can I expect from haemodialysis? A. When the kidneys are not working correctly, haemodialysis is a medical technique that can assist in eliminating waste and extra fluid from the blood, control blood pressure, provide nutritional flexibility, and improve quality of life.

Q How does haemodialysis work in the body? A. Haemodialysis uses a dialysis machine that removes waste products, controls fluid balance, removes excess electrolytes such as potassium and phosphorus from the blood, and controls blood pressure with the help of the dialyser. Clean blood is then returned to the patient.

Q What are the steps of haemodialysis? A. Two tiny needles will be placed into your AV fistula or graft and secured in place. One needle will progressively extract blood and transport it to a machine known as a dialysis machine. The entire process will involve preparation, blood access, blood cleansing, dialysis solution, fluid removal, return of the cleansed blood, monitoring, and completion.

Q. Can you drink water during haemodialysis? A. Patients undergoing haemodialysis must be cautious about their fluid intake since excess fluid can strain the heart and lungs. Suppose a patient develops dehydration or low blood pressure during the operation. In that case, their healthcare professional may let them consume modest water or other fluids to improve their condition.

Q Why do haemodialysis patients not pee? A. Haemodialysis is a therapy for end-stage renal disease, which occurs when the kidneys can no longer filter waste and excess fluid from the body as efficiently as they should. As a result, people with renal failure may have lower urine production or may cease generating urine entirely.

Reference Links:

- https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/kidney-disease/kidney-failure/hemodialysis
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/hemodialysis/about/pac-20384824
- https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/14618-dialysis
- https://www.kidneyfund.org/treatments/dialysis/hemodialysis-type-dialysis
- https://www.davita.com/treatment-services/dialysis/in-center-hemodialysis/what-is-hemodialysis
- https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/special-topic/dialysis-centers-what-to-expect