Understanding Hemodialysis:

In the United States, more than 1 in 7 persons have advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD), which can be treated with hemodialysis. It's the most popular kind of dialysis, a process that removes waste from your blood when your kidneys are no longer able to do their jobs correctly.

The blood is filtered during hemodialysis using an artificial kidney, or hemodialyzer. A dialysis machine returns the blood to the body after it has been filtered by the artificial kidney.

The benefits of hemodialysis might vary depending on your own circumstances. However, a few of the more prevalent ones are as follows:

  • To raise the standard of living.
  • To enhance general health.
  • Help deal with an increase in kidney failure symptoms including edema, tiredness, nausea, or vomiting.


Risks of Hemodialysis:

You could encounter some of the problems mentioned below, although not everyone does, even if hemodialysis therapy can be effective in replacing some lost kidney function. You can manage them with the aid of your dialysis team.

  • Hyperkalemia (high potassium levels) or hypokalemia (low potassium levels) (hypokalemia). Hemodialysis eliminates excess potassium, a mineral that your kidneys ordinarily remove from your body. Your heart may beat erratically or stop if too much or too little potassium is removed during dialysis.
  • Amyloidosis. Dialysis-related amyloidosis occurs when proteins in the blood deposit on joints and tendons, producing discomfort, stiffness, and joint fluid. It is more frequent in persons who have been on hemodialysis for a long time.
  • Reduced blood pressure (hypotension). Hemodialysis frequently has adverse effects, one of which is a reduction in blood pressure. Breathlessness, cramping in the muscles and abdomen, nausea, and vomiting can all be symptoms of low blood pressure.
  • Muscle spasms. Muscle cramps are prevalent during hemodialysis, while the reason is unclear. The prescription for hemodialysis may need to be changed in certain cases to reduce the cramping. Adjusting salt and fluid intake in the intervals between hemodialysis sessions may also aid in reducing side effects.
  • Itching. Hemodialysis patients frequently suffer itchy skin, which frequently gets worse during or right after the treatment.


How to Get Ready?

First, your doctor will authorize you for advanced CKD hemodialysis. You'll need to prepare for the process many weeks before the first treatment if you've been cleared.

One important step is to take care of the blood vessels in your arms. To avoid injuring arm blood arteries prior to hemodialysis, the NIDDK suggests having healthcare personnel collect blood and put intravenous (IV) lines in veins below your wrist.

A fistula, which unites a vein and an artery, or a graft, which utilizes a piece of soft tubing to join a vein and an artery in your arm, are used to provide an access site.

If the access sites in your arm or leg don't work, your doctor may need to insert a catheter in your neck.


How does the Hemodialysis procedure work?

Hemodialysis uses a hemodialyzer or artificial kidney to remove fluid, waste, and chemicals from your blood.

A healthcare practitioner begins by placing two needles into the access site, which is the entrance into your blood vessels. Once the needles are inserted, your blood is sent through a filter that functions as an artificial kidney.

The filter eliminates extra fluid, chemicals, and trash from your blood. The clean blood is then pumped back into your body.


What to do during hemodialysis treatment:

Between hemodialysis sessions, you can assist get the best possible results by doing the following:

Consume the proper foods. Eating right will help your hemodialysis outcomes as well as your general health. You must carefully control your fluid, protein, salt, potassium, and phosphorus consumption while on hemodialysis. A nutritionist may assist you in creating a tailored food plan based on your weight, personal tastes, residual kidney function, and any other medical concerns you may have, such as diabetes or high blood pressure.

Take your meds exactly as directed. Follow your health care team's advice carefully.

Allow your team to support you by addressing your worries with them. Your health care team can offer you with choices and assist you in dealing with any worries.

Results

If you experienced a sudden (acute) kidney damage, you may only require hemodialysis for a brief period of time until your kidneys heal. If you have impaired kidney function prior to a severe damage to your kidneys, your odds of fully recovering after hemodialysis are diminished.

Although three-times-a-week in-center hemodialysis is more prevalent, some evidence shows that home dialysis is associated with:

  • Improved living quality
  • Increased happiness
  • Symptoms have subsided, with less cramping, headaches, and nausea.
  • Sleeping habits and energy levels have improved.

Your hemodialysis care team monitors your treatment to ensure that you are receiving adequate hemodialysis to eliminate wastes from your blood. Your weight and blood pressure are routinely monitored before, during, and after therapy. You'll have these exams around once a month:

  • Blood tests to determine how successfully your hemodialysis is eliminating waste from your body (urea reduction ratio (URR) and total urea clearance (Kt/V).
  • Blood chemistry analysis and blood count evaluation
  • Flow rates of blood through your access site during hemodialysis

Your care team may change the intensity and frequency of your hemodialysis based on test findings.