Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a condition that occurs when your kidneys no longer function normally and begin to fail. People with CKD are at an increased risk of developing end stage renal disease, which can lead to kidney failure (and death) if left untreated. In the case of end stage renal disease, dialysis is usually required as a treatment option. In this article, you will learn about the importance of dialysis for patients with end stage renal disease, what dialysis is, why it’s needed and how it can be administered.
What is Dialysis?
Dialysis is a treatment that uses artificial blood to clean the blood of excess fluid and toxins. Dialysis is typically used to remove blood waste products such as urea, creatinine, albumin and toxins such as excess potassium and sodium. This excess fluid and toxins are harmful to the body if not removed. Dialysis is used in patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD) when kidney function has declined to the point where the person is no longer able to eliminate waste products and toxins from their blood. Dialysis is a procedure in which the patient’s blood is passed through a dialysis machine that filters the blood and removes waste products.
ESRD, or end stage renal disease, is a medical condition in which the kidneys stop working. Your kidneys are responsible for removing excess sodium, water and toxins from your blood. As the disease progresses, your kidneys are still able to filter blood, but they are not able to remove waste products as efficiently as they used to. This means that you have more sodium, water and toxins in your blood than normal. You may also develop other complications from ESRD including anemia, infections, and high blood pressure. Dialysis is necessary for patients with kidney failure to survive.
Why Is Dialysis Needed?
In end stage renal disease, the kidneys are not able to remove excess water and sodium from the blood. Excess fluid and sodium can damage the heart and blood vessels, as well as cause high blood pressure and anemia. Dialysis is a treatment that uses artificial blood to remove these toxins and excess fluid. The patient’s blood is passed through a dialysis machine that filters the blood by removing water, sodium, and toxins. Dialysis is a procedure that is usually done when kidney function has declined to the point where the person is no longer able to eliminate waste products and toxins from their blood. Dialysis is usually used in people with end-stage renal disease, but it may also be used in people with kidney failure that is not due to kidney disease.
How Is Dialysis Performed?
Dialysis is performed by having the patient’s blood pass through a dialysis machine. The patient sits in a chair or lays down with The dialysis machine pulls water and other toxins from the blood and stores the rest of the blood in the form of a liquid. The toxins, such as urea and creatinine, are removed from the blood and stored in a chamber of the machine called a dialysate. The dialysate is processed through the same machine that removes the waste products. The dialysate is then drained into a holding tank.
Advantages of Dialysis in Patients with CKD
During dialysis, toxins are removed from the blood and fluids are returned to the body. This restores some of the minerals and fluids that the patient is missing. In addition, the toxins and fluids are removed, reducing the chance of infection. Dialysis can improve the health of heart, blood vessels and other organ systems and is a very effective treatment. Patients who undergo dialysis are at a decreased risk of infections, because the dialysate is processed in the same way that a new kidney filter would be. Patients who do not have access to dialysis also have a high risk of infection due to the high amount of toxins present in their bodies.
Disadvantages of Dialysis in Patients with CKD
Dialysis can cause anemia because the patient’s body does not produce enough red blood cells. Anemia is considered a dangerous complication since it can cause fatigue and shortness of breath. Iron supplements may be needed to reduce the risk of anemia. The treatment itself can be costly, with a single treatment costing from $2,000 to $5,000. However, many health insurance companies cover dialysis as it's a medical necessity.
Conclusion
Although dialysis is a life-saving procedure, it is not a cure for kidney failure. The only way for patients to regain kidney function is through a kidney transplant. The best option for individuals with kidney failure is to prevent it from worsening by maintaining regular checkups with their primary care physician and following his or her recommendations. Individuals should also educate themselves on how to prevent other medical conditions that can cause CKD.