Kidney failure is a prevalent condition that causes due to various renal & urinary tract diseases. Dialysis for kidney failure is the most common options suggested by the doctors to the sufferers. Due to the kidney failure or improper functioning of kidneys, sometimes it gets worse, and wastes get build up to high & dangerous levels in the blood. Thus, causes complications which include poor nutritional health, nerve damage, anemia and high blood pressure.

What is Dialysis for kidney failure?

Dialysis for kidney failure is a life-support treatment that utilizes special machine for filtering harmful salt, wastes and surplus fluid from the blood. This returns blood to normal and healthy balance. The treatment of Dialysis for kidney failure replaces a number of functions. Basically, there are two types of kidney dialysis, such as Peritoneal dialysis & Hemodialysis.

"In Hemodialysis, blood will be filtered using dialyzer & dialysis machine, where as in Peritoneal dialysis blood is filtered inside body after abdomen is occupied with special cleaning solution"

When do patients require dialysis?

Dialysis for kidney failure is required when waste products in the patient's body become very high and start becoming sick. Waste products levels increase gradually in the patient's body due to kidney failure. Doctors measure various blood chemical levels in order to decide when dialysis is required. "creatinine level" and "blood urea nitrogen" (BUN) are the two major blood chemical levels measured to check the kidneys functioning. The rise in these two levels, replicates the decreasing ability of kidneys to cleanse the body from waste products.

Usually, doctors suggest undertaking urine test "creatinine clearance," to know the kidney functioning level. For this test, patient saves urine in a container for complete one day. The useless products in the urine and blood are assessed by measuring creatinine. The level of blood and urine helps the doctor in analyzing the functioning of kidneys. This result is known as the creatinine clearance, if it falls to 10-12 cc/minute, then patient require dialysis for kidney failure.

The treatment of Dialysis for kidney failure is also recommended if the patient is experiencing inability in overcoming the excess water, or is complaining of issues with the lungs, heart, or stomach, sensation in their legs, or difficulties with taste, although the creatinine clearance has not fallen to 10-12 cc/minute level.

{ Also Read: Is kidney transplantation is the best option for kidney failure}

How will doctor decide the type of dialysis for the patient?

Initially, a doctor will check patient's complete health, personal preferences, kidney functioning and a home situation in order to decide whether the patient should undergo peritoneal dialysis or hemodialysis.

Hemodialysis

Usually, doctors recommend hemodialysis when the patients experience symptoms such as:

• Vomiting
• Nausea
• Increased levels of potassium in the blood
• Excessive tiredness
• Increased levels of acid in the blood
• Swelling

A doctor will suggest hemodialysis if the patient is suffering from acute kidney failure.

Peritoneal dialysis

A doctor will suggest a peritoneal dialysis because of the following conditions:

• If Hemodialysis is not appropriate for the patient and
• If Hemodialysis is affecting patient's daily actions

Advantages of Hemodialysis for kidney failure

• Hemodialysis is the often done by trained health professionals.
• Hemodialysis permits patients to be in contact with others having dialysis, which provides an emotional support.
• Patients don't have to do it by themselves, as they do with peritoneal dialysis.
• Patients do it for a lesser amount of time and on fewer days for each week than peritoneal dialysis.
• Hemodialysis gives more flexibility

Advantages of Peritoneal dialysis for kidney failure

• Provides more freedom than hemodialysis, can be done at home or in any clean place.
• Can also be done during traveling
• No food and fluid restrictions as hemodialysis.
• No needles are used
• A vascular access is needless
• Perfect for children & patients with cardiac problems
• Improves the preservation of residual renal function
• Reduced risk of infection with HCV
• Less amyloidosis
• Less anemia

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