Understanding Kidney Dialysis: A Life-Saving Treatment for Kidney Failure
Your kidneys are so crucial to your overall health. These bean-shaped organs, each roughly the size of a fist, filter waste products, excess salts, and fluids from your blood before turning these products into urine. They also regulate blood pressure, produce red blood cells, and keep the levels of essential minerals in the body balanced.
If your kidney function drops to a certain level due to disease, toxins can start to accumulate in your blood, which can lead to several serious health risks. For individuals with advanced or end-stage kidney failure, dialysis is an essential therapy that attempts to mimic the filtering action of the kidneys.
In this blog, we look at what kidney dialysis is, why it’s needed, your dialysis options, and what life on dialysis means.
What is Kidney Dialysis?
Kidney dialysis is a medical process that acts as a substitute for a failed kidney; it cleanses the body of waste, excess fluids, and toxins in the blood. It is typically reserved for when the kidneys have lost 85–90% of their function and GFR (glomerular filtration rate) falls below 15, at which point renal replacement therapy could be considered for end-stage renal disease (ESRD).
Untreated toxins, fluid, or imbalances of electrolytes can be life-threatening (uraemia (poisoning by such products), fluid overload, or alterations in electrolyte balance). The treatment stabilises patients while they await a kidney transplant or manage long-term kidney failure by restoring the body’s chemical balance.
Types of Kidney Failure and Dialysis Needs
For example, kidney failure can be acute (comes on suddenly) or chronic (occurs over time).
Acute Kidney Injury (AKI):
- Frequently a result of serious infections, dehydration, or medication side effects.
- Dialysis might be short-term, until kidney function recovers.
Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) / End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD):
- It is a chronic disease in which kidney function decreases over time.
- In need of long-term or lifelong dialysis unless a kidney transplant is an option.
- Early diagnosis and treatment can help slow down the progression of CKD until the kidneys fail, when dialysis is needed.
Types of Dialysis Treatments
Haemodialysis
- How it works: Blood is pulled from the body, run through a dialysis machine, and returned.
- Venue: Dialysis centre/hospital (e.g., Chase Lodge Hospital).
- Frequency: Most often 3 times per week, sessions last 3–5 hours.
Peritoneal Dialysis
- How it works: Relies on the peritoneum (abdominal lining) as a natural filter. A dialysate fluid is placed in the peritoneal cavity via a catheter, removing wastes as the fluid is drained.
- Location: Can be performed at home, allowing more flexibility.
- Types:
- CAPD (Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis): Manual exchanges 3–5 times per day.
- APD (Automated Peritoneal Dialysis): A machine performs exchanges overnight.
The decision to perform haemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis depends on lifestyle, health status, and patient preference.
Life on Dialysis
Dialysis is a major life change:
- Dietary adjustments: You may need to eat foods that are low in salt, potassium, phosphorus, and fluid.
- Physical effects: Tiredness, muscle spasms, or changes in blood pressure.
- Mental health: It is important to get support from family, friends, and healthcare professionals.
Can Dialysis Be Temporary?
In some cases, dialysis is not permanent:
- Acute kidney injury patients may recover function after treatment.
- Post-surgical or infection-related kidney failure may improve with time.
Regular monitoring determines if dialysis can be discontinued.
Next Steps & When to Seek Help
If you experience:
✔ Swelling in legs/ankles
✔ Extreme fatigue
✔ Reduced urine output
✔ Nausea or confusion
Please see a nephrologist as soon as possible. The earlier the intervention, the better the outcomes.
Conclusion
For better or worse, there is nothing else that does what dialysis does to save the lives of patients with temporary or chronic kidney failure. Here at Chase Lodge Hospital, our renal team’s expertise in dialysis ensures a tailored service for each patient.
Need Help?
Get in touch with our experts today if you or a family member needs kidney care.
