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