How Does Dialysis Work

Each and every organ in the body is responsible for one or more physiological functions and it is the combined effort of these organs that results in the normal functioning of the body. Among these organs, kidneys are one of the most vital ones, with various functions that range from filtration of waste products to maintaining the levels of water and some minerals. So a person with impaired kidney function may face various complications.

Dialysis is usually required in the latter stages of chronic kidney disease or renal failure. It is when the kidneys fail to perform its functions that dialysis is needed. However, the process of dialysis can replace only the waste removal and the excess fluid removal functions of the kidney. It is not a long term measure, but, is used as a intermediary relief in patients who await kidney transplant or as a life support measure for those, who are not fit for transplant.

More About Dialysis

We all know that kidneys have a very vital role in the everyday functioning of the human body. The most important among them is filtration of waste products from the blood and removal of excess fluid. In case of kidney diseases, complications like, hypertension, anemia, nerve damage and bone weakness can result. It has also been noted that kidney disease can lead to heart problems too. Once the kidney fails to perform its function, the person may need a transplant. In order to support his life till kidney transplant, dialysis will be performed, as per individual requirement.

Kidney dialysis is a procedure that helps a person with renal failure to flush out the waste materials in the blood, which would otherwise be done by the kidneys. In other words, a dialysis machine can be used to perform some of the important functions of the kidneys, if the kidneys fail to perform properly. There are two types of dialysis - peritoneal and hemodialysis.

How Does a Dialysis Machine Work

While most of us are conversant with the term dialysis, very few people have awareness about the actual procedure. Before starting with the procedure, let us take a look at the two different types of this procedure. One is hemodialysis, which involves a machine, that applies the principles of diffusion to flush out the toxins in the blood. In this process, the blood of the patient is passed through the dialysis machine, which has a chamber with two sides that are separated with a special semi permeable membrane. The blood from the patient is pumped into one side of this chamber and on the other side, a special fluid called dialysate flows in the opposite direction. The membrane that separates the two chambers has microscopic holes in it, so that the toxins and some fluids pass through the holes to enter the dialysate. However, bigger particles like red blood cells and large proteins, are not filtered by the machine. This procedure is usually done at hospitals and dialysis centers and takes around three to four hours. The following paragraph is about peritoneal dialysis, which is another type of dialysis.

Peritoneal dialysis is the one that is sometimes done at home. It is a simple method, in which, the fluid (dialysate) is pumped into the peritoneal cavity. Otherwise known as the abdominal cavity. The peritoneal cavity is the space that houses the abdominal organs like stomach, liver, spleen and intestines. The whole cavity and the organs are lined by peritoneal membrane that possesses numerous blood vessels. Dialysate is filled in this cavity through a tube that is inserted into the abdominal wall. This tube ends in the peritoneal cavity. The peritoneal membrane acts as a semi permeable membrane in this case. The toxins and fluids in the blood get filtered through the peritoneal membrane to dialysate, which is pumped out of the body after a stipulated time.