Dialysis
What are the dialysis options?
There are 2 kinds of dialysis:
- Peritoneal dialysis (PD)
- Hemodialysis
Peritoneal dialysis (PD)
What is peritoneal dialysis?
Special fluid and part of your belly work together to filter waste out of your blood.
Where does peritoneal dialysis happen?
With some training, you can do PD at home, at work, when traveling, or while you sleep.
How often would I need peritoneal dialysis?
You might need this treatment every day.
What happens during peritoneal dialysis?
- A special fluid is put into your belly through a tube.
- The fluid and the lining of your belly work together to clean your body.
- While the fluid is in your belly, you can walk around and do your daily activities.
How long does peritoneal dialysis take?
Every few hours, the used fluid must be drained and new, clean fluid put in. This is not painful, but must be done carefully so you don’t get an infection. You have to sit still while the fluid drains and new fluid goes in, which takes about 30 minutes.
Hemodialysis
What is hemodialysis?
A machine filters waste products out of your blood.
Where does hemodialysis happen?
It can be done at home or at a dialysis center.
How often would I need hemodialysis?
You might need this treatment 3-4 times a week or every day.
What happens during hemodialysis?
- Usually, 2 needles are put in your arm or into a catheter (tube) in your chest.
- Your blood comes out of your body through 1 of the needles.
- Your blood runs through a tube into a machine that filters out extra waste and fluid.
- The clean blood goes through another tube and back into your body through the other needle.
How long does hemodialysis take?
It takes 3-5 hours each time, and you will be connected to the machine for that time.
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