| Interesting Facts about Kidney Dialysis1. | | | | treatment, your abdominal area (called the |
| Hemodialysis and peritoneal kideny dialysis have | | | | peritoneal cavity) is slowly filled with dialysate |
| been done since the mid 1940's.2. The federal | | | | through the catheter. The blood stays in the |
| government pays 80 percent of all kidney dialysis | | | | arteries and veins that line your peritoneal cavity. |
| costs for most patients.3. Since the 1960s, | | | | Extra fluid and waste products are drawn out of |
| surveillance studies have consistently shown that | | | | your blood and into the dialysate. There are two |
| American kidney dialysis patients do not live as | | | | major kinds of peritoneal kidney dialysis.What are |
| long as those in other countries...the U.S. mortality | | | | the different kinds of peritoneal kidney dialysis and |
| rate for dialysis patients is about 23 percent, | | | | how do they work?There are several kinds of |
| twice the rate of patients in Western Europe or | | | | peritoneal kidney dialysis but two major ones are: |
| Japan.4. According to The National Center for | | | | Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis (CAPD) |
| Health Statistics kideny dialysis survival rates are | | | | and Continuous Cycling Peritoneal Dialysis |
| as follows:1 Year - 77% | | | | (CCPD).Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis |
| 5 Years - 28% | | | | (CAPD) is the only type of peritoneal dialysis that |
| 10 Years - 10%5. About 90 percent of dialysis | | | | is done without machines. You do this yourself, |
| patients receive hemodialysis, in which the blood is | | | | usually four or five times a day at home and/or |
| circulated outside the body and cleaned inside a | | | | at work. You put a bag of dialysate (about two |
| machine before returning to the patient.6.Kidneys | | | | quarts) into your peritoneal cavity through the |
| process 18 gallons of blood each hour with a | | | | catheter. The dialysate stays there for about four |
| sophisticated method of excretion, absorption and | | | | or five hours before it is drained back into the |
| re-absorption. By the end of each day, they can | | | | bag and thrown away. This is called an exchange. |
| produce as much as 7 gallons of urine.What is | | | | You use a new bag of dialysate each time you do |
| Kidney Dialysis?Kidney Dialysis is a treatment that | | | | an exchange. While the dialysate is in your |
| does some of the things done by healthy kidneys. | | | | peritoneal cavity, you can go about your usual |
| It is needed when your own kidneys can no | | | | activities at work, at school or at |
| longer take care of your body's needs.When is | | | | home.Continuous Cycling Peritoneal Dialysis (CCPD) |
| kidney dialysis needed?You need kidney dialysis | | | | usually is done at home using a special machine |
| when you develop end stage kidney failure, usually | | | | called a cycler. This is similar to CAPD except that |
| by the time you lose about 85 to 90 percent of | | | | a number of cycles (exchanges) occur. Each cycle |
| your kidney function.What does kidney dialysis | | | | usually lasts 1-1/2 hours and exchanges are done |
| do?Like healthy kidneys, kidney dialysis keeps | | | | throughout the night while you sleep.Will kidney |
| your body in balance. Kidney Dialysis does the | | | | dialysis help cure the kidney disease?No. Kidney |
| following:-removes waste, salt and extra water to | | | | dialysis does some of the work of healthy |
| prevent them from building up in the body-keeps | | | | kidneys, but it does not cure your kidney disease. |
| a safe level of certain chemicals in your blood, | | | | You will need to have dialysis treatments for your |
| such as potassium, sodium and bicarbonate- helps | | | | whole life unless you are able to get a kidney |
| to control blood pressureIs kidney failure | | | | transplant.Is kidney dialysis uncomfortable?You |
| permanent?Not always. Some kinds of acute | | | | may have some discomfort when the needles |
| kidney failure get better after treatment. In some | | | | are put into your fistula or graft, but most |
| cases of acute kidney failure, kidney dialysis may | | | | patients have no other problems. The kidney |
| only be needed for a short time until the kidneys | | | | dialysis treatment itself is painless. However, some |
| get better.In chronic or end stage kidney failure, | | | | patients may have a drop in their blood pressure. |
| your kidneys do not get better and you will need | | | | If this happens, you may feel sick to your |
| kidney dialysis for the rest of your life. If your | | | | stomach, vomit, have a headache or cramps. |
| doctor says you are a candidate, you may | | | | With frequent treatments, those problems usually |
| choose to be placed on a waiting list for a new | | | | go away.How long has kidney dialysis been |
| kidney.Where is kidney dialysis done?Kidney | | | | available?Hemodialysis and peritoneal kidney dialysis |
| Dialysis can be done in a hospital, in a kidney | | | | have been done since the mid 1940's. Kidney |
| dialysis unit that is not part of a hospital, or at | | | | Dialysis, as a regular treatment, was begun in |
| home. You and your doctor will decide which place | | | | 1960 and is now a standard treatment all around |
| is best, based on your medical condition and your | | | | the world. CAPD began in 1976. Thousands of |
| wishes.Are there different types of kidney | | | | patients have been helped by these |
| dialysis?Yes, there are two types of kidney | | | | treatments.How long can you live on kidney |
| dialysis --hemodialysis and peritoneal kidney | | | | dialysis?We do not yet know how long patients on |
| dialysis.What is hemodialysis?In hemodialysis, an | | | | kidney dialysis will live. We think that some dialysis |
| artificial kidney (hemodialyzer) is used to remove | | | | patients may live as long as people without kidney |
| waste and extra chemicals and fluid from your | | | | failure.Is kidney dialysis expensive?Yes. Kidney |
| blood. To get your blood into the artificial kidney, | | | | Dialysis costs a lot of money. However, the |
| the doctor needs to make an access (entrance) | | | | federal government pays 80 percent of all kidney |
| into your blood vessels. This is done by minor | | | | dialysis costs for most patients. Private health |
| surgery to your arm or leg.Sometimes, an access | | | | insurance or state medical aid also help with the |
| is made by joining an artery to a vein under your | | | | costs.Do kidney dialysis patients feel normal?Many |
| skin to make a bigger blood vessel called a | | | | patients live normal lives except for the time |
| fistula.However, if your blood vessels are not | | | | needed for treatments. Kidney Dialysis usually |
| adequate for a fistula, the doctor may use a soft | | | | makes you feel better because it helps many of |
| plastic tube to join an artery and a vein under | | | | the problems caused by kidney failure. You and |
| your skin. This is called a graft.Occasionally, an | | | | your family will need time to get used to kidney |
| access is made by means of a narrow plastic | | | | dialysis.Do kidney dialysis patients have to control |
| tube, called a catheter, which is inserted into a | | | | their diets?Yes. You may be on a special diet. You |
| large vein in your neck. This type of access may | | | | may not be able to eat everything you like, and |
| be temporary, but is sometimes used for | | | | you may need to limit how much you drink. Your |
| long-term treatment.How long do hemodialysis | | | | diet may vary according to the type of kidney |
| treatments last?The time needed for your kidney | | | | dialysis.Can kidney dialysis Patients travel?Yes. |
| dialysis depends on:-how well your kidneys work | | | | Kidney Dialysis centers are located in every part |
| -how much fluid weight you gain between | | | | of the United States and in many foreign |
| treatments | | | | countries. The treatment is standardized. You |
| -how much waste you have in your body | | | | must make an appointment for dialysis |
| -how big you are | | | | treatments at another center before you go. The |
| -the type of artificial kidney usedUsually, each | | | | staff at your center may help you make the |
| hemodialysis treatment lasts about four hours and | | | | appointment.Can kidney dialysis patients continue |
| is done three times per week.A type of | | | | to work?Many kidney dialysis patients can go |
| hemodialysis called high-flux dialysis may take less | | | | back to work after they have gotten used to |
| time. You can speak to your doctor to see if this | | | | kidney dialysis. If your job has a lot of physical |
| is an appropriate treatment for you.What is | | | | labor (heavy lifting, digging, etc.), you may need to |
| peritoneal kidney dialysis and how does it work?In | | | | get a different job.Robert Hilley writes for a |
| this type of kidney dialysis, your blood is cleaned | | | | number of health related websites and shares his |
| inside your body. The doctor will do surgery to | | | | findings regularly through Ezine @rticles. Robert |
| place a plastic tube called a catheter into your | | | | can be contacted at: RobertHilley. |
| abdomen (belly) to make an access. During the | | | | |