Dialysis

The kidneys are responsible for filtering wastes from the blood. Dialysis is a procedure that is a substitute for many of the normal tasks and responsibilities of kidneys. Dialysis allows people whose kidneys don’t operate properly to live a normal life.

Dialysis machine isolates toxic substances such as urea and ammonia from the blood. When the kidneys are damaged the Dialysis machine is used as a substitute for them. First of all, Heparin is added to the blood in order to make it diluted.  The combination of these two enters the dialysis machine and goes beside the dialysis fluid or Dialysate through semi-permeable membrane. The Dialysate includes sodium, potassium and glucose ions. Toxic substances of the blood pass the semi-permeable membrane and enters the Dialysate exchanging chamber. Dialysis fluid is made of the thick material of Dialysate and emerges in the mixing chamber by two adjustable pumps.

There are two types of dialysis: 1- Hemodialysis 2- Peritoneal Dialysis. In hemodialysis, a special type of filter is used on order to remove wastes and extra water from the patient’s body by the Hemodialysis machine.

In peritoneal dialysis, a kind of fluid is sent to patient’s stomach through a plastic tube and the wastes and extra water are removed by it.

Special problems of Dialysis patients include: depression, malnutrition and Hypertension.