My aunt has been told that she has chronic kidney disease. Her doctors are now arranging for her to have dialysis, but what exactly is this?
Dialysis is the process by which waste products and excessive fluids are removed from the body via a special machine. The kidneys filter metabolic waste products from the blood which are then eliminated along with excess water from the body in the form of urine. A rapid decline in kidney function is called acute kidney failure, while a more gradual decline in the ability of the kidneys to do their job effectively is classified as chronic kidney failure. When this happens it is necessary for a machine to take over the job and this process is called dialysis.
The hospital has mentioned she may be able to have this done at home rather than going into hospital all the time. Is this possible?
There are two types of dialysis. The first and probably most well known is called haemodialysis. In this type of procedure, blood is removed from the body and pumped through a machine which filters metabolic waste products and returns purified blood to the person. This process typically takes place at a dialysis centre in a hospital. The second type of dialysis is called peritoneal dialysis. The peritoneum, a membrane that lines the abdominal organs, acts as a filter. Substances from the blood can easily pass through the peritoneum. Fluid is infused through a tube in the abdominal wall. This fluid must be left within the abdomen for a sufficient time to allow waste products from the blood stream to pass slowly into it. The fluid is then drained out with the entire procedure taking up to 12 hours. Peritoneal dialysis can be carried out at home, eliminating the need to travel to a dialysis centre or hospital.
Can people who are on this type of dialysis eat and drink normally?
For those undergoing peritoneal dialysis their appetite is generally poor. In addition, protein is lost during the procedure so the person's diet should therefore be relatively high in protein. As both sodium and potassium levels have to be closely regulated, salt intake must be restricted. Multivitamin supplements are also recommended to replace lost nutrients.
Marion Kerr