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Dialysis Treatment Options

When your kidneys fail, you will mostly likely be over flooded with information from doctors, social workers, nurses and people in general who want to help.

Try not to let it overwhelm you, take it in a little bit at a time, and don’t be too hard on yourself if you can’t remember everything. Bookmark information, make notes, and write down questions.

The treatment options for kidney failure are hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis and kidney transplant.

One of the most important steps in taking care of your health is to know your options. If you go on dialysis there are various types of dialysis you can do, depending on your lifestyle and overall health.

Scroll down for an overview of each dialysis option that is available. Click the learn more button for more details and a demonstration video for the at home dialysis options and a unique tool to help you design an at home dialysis space.

Hemodialysis

In hemodialysis, your blood flows through a special filter that removes wastes and extra fluids. The clean blood is then returned to your body. Removing the harmful wastes and extra salt and fluids helps control your blood pressure and keep the proper balance of chemicals like potassium and sodium in your body.

Hemodialysis Options

  • In Center-hemodialysis
  • Home hemodialysis (at home with the direction of a local dialysis center.)
  • Nocturnal dialysis (done in center and at home)
  • In-Center self-care dialysis

Hemodialysis Access Choices

  • Fistula – A type of vascular access that is created by connecting one of the arteries to one of the veins in the lower arm. A fistula is the most effective type of dialysis access.
  • Graft – A type of vascular access that uses a piece of synthetic tubing sewn between an artery and a vein if a fistula is not available.
  • Hemodialysis Catheter – Though typically not used for permanent access, a hemodialysis catheter may be used temporarily if kidney disease has progressed quickly and other access has not been obtained. In this case, a catheter is placed in a vein in the neck (jugular vein), chest (subclavian vein), or leg (femoral vein). Dialysis catheters are also used for patients needing dialysis while their permanent access develops.

Peritoneal Dialysis

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is a treatment for kidney failure that uses the lining of your abdomen (called the peritoneum) to filter waste, excess fluids, and toxins from your blood. PD involves a dialysis solution, which is a sterile fluid called dialysate is introduced into your abdominal cavity through a soft tube (catheter) surgically placed in your abdomen. The dialysate stays in your abdomen for several hours, allowing waste, toxins, and excess fluid to move from your blood vessels in the peritoneum into the dialysate. After the exchange period, the used dialysate is drained and replaced with fresh dialysate.

Peritoneal Dialysis Options

  • CCPD – Continuous Cycling Peritoneal Dialysis, is a an automated method of Dialysis which runs while you are sleeping. 8-12 liters of fluid will be exchanged during the course of a 8-10 hours sleep. You will also need to be monitored frequently by nurses and clinics due to the strict rules and guidelines which need to be met.
  • CAPD – Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis, which cleans your body during the day. You will need to manually exchange the fluids every few hours, which can take 40 minutes per session (usually 4 times a day).

Peritoneal Dialysis Access:

  • Peritoneal access: A special tube is placed during a short surgical procedure into the abdomen. Placement of the catheter is usually done 10-14 days before dialysis starts.
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