Renal Dialysis: What It Is, Its Types, and Associated Symptoms

Kidney dialysis, a critical medical procedure, comes to the rescue when our kidneys fall to do their basic functions. It serves as a vital lifeline for individuals facing end-stage renal failure, a condition where the kidneys can no longer effectively cleanse the body of waste and toxins. Two primary types of dialysis, hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis, offer patients an opportunity to lead relatively normal lives, albeit with certain dietary restrictions and fluid intake limitations. While it doesn't cure renal disease, dialysis provides hope, offering patients a chance to escape the debilitating symptoms of renal failure until a suitable kidney transplant becomes available.

Quick Facts About renal Dialysis

Renal dialysis is a medical technique used to purify the blood and rid the body of toxins and waste when the kidneys can no longer perform their vital functions.

There are two types of renal dialysis: hemodialysis (the most common) and peritoneal dialysis.

While not a cure for renal disease, dialysis offers a chance to live without the symptoms of renal failure.

Kidney Dialysis (Dialysis):

Kidney dialysis is one of the treatment methods employed when renal function declines to a point where the kidneys can no longer effectively filter waste and toxins from the bloodstream.

When Is renal Dialysis Necessary?

Kidney dialysis becomes necessary when the kidneys reach the final stages of renal failure or when the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) drops below 15%. In such cases, dialysis is essential until a healthy renal transplantation becomes available.

In some acute renal failure cases, temporary dialysis may be required until the kidneys recover their function.

The appearance of any of the above symptoms of kidney failure alerts you to the need to see a doctor.

The Role of renal Dialysis

When renal failure occurs, renal dialysis aims to compensate for the organ's malfunction by:

• Removing waste, salts, and excess fluids to prevent their buildup in the body.
• Maintaining safe levels of minerals and electrolytes, such as potassium, sodium, and bicarbonate.
• Assisting in blood pressure regulation.

Types of renal Dialysis:

• Hemodialysis:

   - Hemodialysis is the most common and widely used type. During this procedure, blood is pumped out of the body into an external machine that filters waste and toxins. Afterward, the purified blood is returned to the body. Hemodialysis typically lasts about 4 hours, three times a week, often requiring hospital visits.

• Peritoneal Dialysis:

   - Peritoneal dialysis involves introducing blood into the peritoneal cavity lined with the peritoneum, a membrane rich in tiny blood vessels. This allows for the exchange of waste products with the blood, a process taking at least half an hour. Peritoneal dialysis can be performed daily at home or during sleep without the need for frequent hospital visits.

Symptoms Associated with renal Dialysis:

Kidney dialysis may lead to various side effects such as skin itching, muscle cramps, and peritoneal inflammation in the case of peritoneal dialysis.

Patients might also experience extreme fatigue, hypotension, or even blood poisoning following a dialysis session.

Also, patients can lead relatively normal lives on days when they don't require dialysis. However, they may need to adhere to specific dietary restrictions and reduce fluid intake.

In conclusion, renal dialysis is a demanding and challenging process for both patients and their families, both physically and emotionally. Although it does not cure kidney disease, it provides patients with another opportunity to lead a life closer to normalcy without enduring the torment of kidney failure symptoms until a suitable kidney transplant becomes available.

Sources:

- National Kidney Foundation. Dialysis. [Online] Available at: [https://www.kidney.org/atoz/content/dialysisinfo] (Accessed: 27th February 2019).

- NHS. Dialysis. [Online] Available at: [https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/dialysis/](https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/dialysis/) (Accessed: 27th February 2019).

Scientific Review and Linguistic Editing by Dr/ Ahmed Elkhatib.