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Dialysis is a medical process used to cleanse the blood of waste products and extra fluids. It is often a lifesaving treatment for people with an acute kidney injury or chronic kidney disease. Kidneys remove waste from the blood and make urine. The kidneys also help control the body's water and minerals. A patient may need Dialysis to clean the blood when one or both kidneys fail. Dialysis helps maintain a healthy level of minerals and other substances in the blood.
Dialysis helps manage End-Stage Kidney Disease (ESKD) or Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). Chronic Kidney disease affects about 10% of the world's population. As per estimates, more than 6 million people in India suffer from Chronic Kidney Disease, with over 2 million depending upon Dialysis for their survival. Manipal Hospitals offers the best Dialysis in Bangalore and is at the forefront of treating patients with kidney failures.
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Who needs Dialysis?
End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD)
End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) is when the kidneys can no longer perform their normal functions. The kidneys filter blood's waste products. However, when they fail to do so, the body is unable to remove toxins. The condition can lead to many other health problems, such as heart disease and high blood pressure.
ESRD may result from Diabetes, high blood pressure, Lupus, or Kidney infections. Other types of ESRD include Glomerulonephritis (a type of inflammation that affects the Glomeruli), Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD), and Multiple Myeloma.
The symptoms of ESRD include swelling of the extremities (which indicates fluid retention), fatigue, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea.
Acute Kidney Failure
Acute kidney failure is a severe condition that occurs when the kidneys fail to function correctly. The condition can happen suddenly and without warning. The kidneys filter waste from the blood, which then becomes urine. When the kidneys fail to filter properly, the body becomes overloaded with toxins and wastes that it cannot eliminate, leading to several symptoms, including nausea, vomiting, low blood pressure, confusion and disorientation, fatigue, loss of appetite, weakness and muscle cramps. It can be fatal if left untreated for too long or severe enough.
Chronic Kidney Disease
Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) refers to a long-term decline in kidney function. Although other diseases or conditions can cause it, chronic kidney disease is often associated with Diabetes, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol.
CKD can develop slowly over time but also quickly if left untreated. As the kidneys deteriorate and lose the ability to filter waste from the blood and produce urine, they malfunction, causing kidneys to release too much fluid into the bloodstream and pass too little urine.
As CKD progresses, symptoms may include fatigue, weight loss and swelling in the legs and feet (Oedema), itchy skin (Pruritus), nausea and vomiting, dizziness on standing up suddenly (Orthostatic Hypotension), weakness when climbing stairs or lifting heavy items, headache and trouble concentrating (Cognitive Impairment), confusion or Delirium.
Patients for a Kidney Transplant
Dialysis is usually only used while patients wait for a kidney transplant. Dialysis is also needed when kidney function does not improve after the transplant surgery or if patients develop complications such as infection or high blood pressure during recovery.
Types of Dialysis
There are two primary types of Dialysis.
Hemodialysis
Peritoneal Dialysis
Hemodialysis
Hemodialysis uses a machine to clean the blood and remove waste products. It helps people with kidney failure, a condition where the kidneys cannot remove enough waste from the body. Hence, it builds up in the blood and causes health problems.
The machine that does the cleaning is called a Dialyzer. The blood goes into one side of this machine while a solution of water, salts, and other chemicals goes into the other side. These chemicals help remove things like Potassium and Creatinine from the blood.
Before a Hemodialysis, the surgeon may use the following means to access the bloodstream.
Arteriovenous Fistula (AV Fistula): A surgically created access point that connects an artery and a vein, the fistula is a permanent access point for Hemodialysis in the upper arm or forearm. AV Fistulas help long-term dialysis patients who need permanent vascular access.
Arteriovenous Graft (AV Graft): The AV graft allows dialysis fluid to circulate through the system, cleaning waste products from the blood. This graft is placed in the arm and connected to the Radial Artery and the Brachial Vein.
Catheter: The surgeon may use a catheter (a thin tube) in a neck, chest or leg vein for quick and temporary access.
Peritoneal Dialysis
Peritoneal Dialysis (PD) involves using a particular solution called Dialysate, infused into the peritoneal cavity through a catheter. PD has several advantages over other types of Dialysis, including fewer complications and side effects.
The Dialysate solution is left in for about six to eight hours overnight and then drained out. This process happens three times every day.
The main benefit of this type of Dialysis is the ability to conduct at home rather than in a hospital. It is also less invasive than Hemodialysis and can help people who have difficulty tolerating medications or are allergic to them.
Peritoneal Dialysis either uses a Cycler machine for Automated Peritoneal Dialysis or manually uses Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis (CAPD).
Visit our best dialysis hospital in Bangalore if you require dialysis for managing kidney failure.
