Kidneys are a bean-shaped organ that helps to filter the blood from toxins, wastes, and excess fluids. They also ensure that your blood maintains overall fluid and mineral balance. In cases when the kidney is not able to perform these functions then it is considered as kidney failure. If left untreated, kidney failure can be life-threatening so it’s always better to get kidney dialysis done. Let us look at what is kidney dialysis to help you understand better. Dialysis is a kidney treatment done when someone develops end-stage kidney failure. Dialysis performs the usual functions of the kidney of filtering and purifying the blood using a machine. The machine performs all these functions:
- Removes toxins, impurities, salt, and excess water from the body.
- Maintains the balance of chemical elements like potassium and sodium.
However, it is equally important to know what the conditions or symptoms of kidney failure are before thinking about getting dialysis done. Some of the symptoms of kidney failure are:
- Low urine output
- Extreme Fatigue
- Swelling in ankles, legs, or feet due to fluid retention
- Shortness of breath
- Nausea and many more
Do not worry if you are facing the above-mentioned problems, because kidney dialysis can take care of all these problems and provide you comfort.
There are basically two kinds of dialysis – Hemodialysis and Peritoneal dialysis.
Hemodialysis is one of the ways of kidney dialysis in which an artificial kidney (hemodialyzer) is used to remove toxic materials, impurities, water, and excess fluid from the blood. To do this, the doctor does a small surgery in either your leg or arm, to get access to your blood vessels. Sometimes, the access is also made by sewing an artery to a vein, making it thick and large, and then using an AV Fistula or AV Graft depending upon the conditions. Using Fistula gives the benefit of the lowest risk of infection and for quick dialysis, using Graft is the best way.
The time taken to get a Hemodialysis session done is usually 4-5 hours with 3 times a week. The duration also depends upon the age of the patient, condition of the kidney, and excessive levels of fluid in your body.
Another form of dialysis is Peritoneal Dialysis where a small tube called Cannula is placed in your abdomen to filter the blood. This is a much more convenient kind of method because it can be done at home but at the same time, it does pose a risk of infection.
The next big question that comes to every kidney patient’s mind is whether getting dialysis done can cure the disease or not. Always remember that kidney dialysis provides only a temporary solution to your kidney problems. It doesn’t cure your kidney forever. Kidney dialysis is not a one-time operation kind of treatment rather you would have to go through it many times depending upon the condition of kidney failure. You can get total relief from kidney issues only through a kidney transplant.
Dialysis is mostly a pain-free treatment, with a little discomfort at times. Dialysis patients must be conscious of the diet plan depending upon the kind of dialysis. You can also get back to your routine life after the treatment is completed. Usually, the average life expectancy for a person undergoing dialysis is 5-10 years but, in some cases, it has gone up to 20 years or more.
There are many hospitals and doctors to treat your kidney. One of the leading centers for kidney dialysis is Vascular Centre in Bangalore. Established in 2008, it is now recognized as one of the premium vascular center in India. They have a long-committed experience of providing quality treatment for the most complex of kidney problems at an affordable cost of dialysis in Bangalore. Don’t get confused or end up worrying a lot, just book an appointment at the Vascular centre to start your treatment.