Dialysis is necessary when people develop end-stage kidney failure, in which 85 to 90 percent of kidney function is lost. Kidney failure occurs gradually because if one kidney is still working or both are functioning partially, normal kidney function is possible, Medical News Today explains. It often takes a long time before a patient notices symptoms. Causes of kidney disease include genetics, diabetes, high blood pressure, inflammation, infection, physical injury or other factors.
Warning
Symptoms of kidney failure may include fatigue, frequent urination, nausea, shortness of breath, water retention, blood in the urine, itchy skin or erectile dysfunction.
Function
Dialysis acts as an artificial kidney and keeps the body in balance as a healthy kidney does, according to the National Kidney Foundation. The treatment removes waste, salt and extra water to prevent a buildup of the substances in the body. Dialysis regulates levels of potassium, sodium, bicarbonate and other essential chemicals in the body. The procedure also helps control blood pressure.
Time Frame
In some cases of acute kidney failure, people may only need dialysis for a short time until the kidneys improve. Chronic kidney failure requires treatment for the rest of a person's life, unless the person gets a kidney transplant after being placed on a waiting list.
Types
Hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis are the two types of dialysis. Hemodialysis uses a machine to clean and filter blood, according to the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse. The blood is exchanged through a tube from the machine into a patient's blood vessels. Peritoneal dialysis cleanses blood from the inside of the body. Doctors insert a plastic tube, or catheter, into the abdominal area and fill the lower abdomen with a solution through the catheter. The blood remains in the arteries and veins in the abdominal area, while extra fluid and waste are drawn from the blood into the solution, the National Kidney Foundation explains.
Considerations
Dialysis can be done in a hospital, clinic or at home. The location depends on a person's condition. People who are in stable condition, do not suffer from other diseases, have a caregiver and have a home adaptable for equipment can have hemodialysis at home, Medical News Today says. A type of peritoneal dialysis can be done at home with a special machine called a cycler, which can exchange blood while a person sleeps. Another type of peritoneal dialysis can be done at home or at work. It uses a bag that attaches to a catheter and can be thrown away after the cleansing process, the National Kidney Foundation says.
Benefits
Dialysis is not a cure for chronic kidney failure, and it is not known how long a person's life is extended through the process. It is possible that some dialysis patients live as long as people without kidney failure provided they continue treatment, according to the National Kidney Foundation.
