Dialysis
Medical Reviewing Editor: William C. Shiel, Jr, MD, FACP, FACR
What is dialysis?
The kidneys are responsible for filtering waste products
from the blood. Dialysis is a
procedure that is a substitute for many of the normal duties of the kidneys. The
kidneys are two organs located on either side of the back of the abdominal
cavity. Dialysis can allow
individuals to live productive and useful lives, even though their
kidneys no longer work adequately. In the United States, there are
over 200,000 people who use dialysis techniques on an ongoing
basis.
Dialysis helps the body by performing the functions of failed
kidneys. The kidney has many roles.
An essential job of the kidney is to regulate the body's fluid balance. It does this by adjusting
the amount of urine that is excreted
on a daily basis. On hot days, the body sweats more. Thus, less water needs to
be excreted through the kidneys. On cold days, the body sweats less. Thus, urine output
needs to be greater in order to maintain the proper balance within
the body. It is the kidney's job to regulate fluid balance by
adjusting urine output.
Another major duty of the kidney is to remove the waste
products that the body produces throughout the day. As the body functions, the
cells use energy. The operation of the cells produces waste products
that must be removed from the body. When these waste products are
not removed adequately, they build up in the body. An elevation of
waste products, as measured in the blood, is called "azotemia." When
waste products accumulate they, cause a sick feeling throughout the
body called "uremia."
Next: When do patients require dialysis? »
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