When possible, patients should prepare for dialysis before dialysis is absolutely necessary.

It is important to stick to the diet and medicines prescribed by the dialysis staff and your kidney specialist (nephrologist).

The health care provider will make the following assessments before beginning the hemodialysis procedure:

• Blood pressure
• Breathing rate
• Chest assessment
• Examination of vein access
• Heart rate
• Temperature
• Weight

Because dialysis takes several hours, it may be tedious. With children, it is especially important to have games, something to read, or other distractions.

The kidneys function as filters for the blood, removing waste products. They also:

• Regulate body water
• Maintain electrolyte balance
• Ensure that the blood pH remains between 7.35 and 7.45

Dialysis replaces some of the functions for kidneys that aren't working properly. It removes contaminants from the blood that could, and eventually would, lead to death if the kidney is not functioning.

Since dialysis is not a constant process, it cannot monitor body functions as do normal kidneys, but it can eliminate waste products and restore electrolyte and pH levels on an as-needed basis.

Dialysis is most often used for patients who have kidney failure, but it can also quickly remove drugs or poisons in acute situations. This technique can be lifesaving in people with acute or chronic kidney failure.

Images

Kidney anatomy

Kidney - blood and urine flow

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Dialysis Results

Review Date: 10/15/2008
Reviewed By: Parul Patel, MD, Private practice specializing in Nephrology, Kidney and Pancreas Transplantation, affiliated with California Pacific Medical Center, Department of Transplantation, San Francisco, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed byDavid Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)