Dialysis (cont.)
What does the patient do during dialysis?
Hemodialysis
Treatment for hemodialysis takes place in a hemodialysis unit.
This is a special building that is equipped with machines that
perform the dialysis treatment. Special equipment adds the proper
materials to purified water for the dialysis machines. The dialysis
unit is also the place where patients can receive dietary counseling
and help with social needs.
Patients generally go to the dialysis unit three times a week for
treatment. For example, the schedule is either Monday, Wednesday,
and Friday or Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Before treatment,
patients weigh themselves so that excess fluid accumulated since the
last dialysis session can be measured. Patients then go to assigned
chairs that are like lounge chairs. The area of the graft or fistula
(the connection between the artery and vein), is cleaned thoroughly.
Two needles are then inserted into the graft or fistula. One takes
the blood to the machine where it is cleaned. The other needle
allows blood that is returning to the patient to go back into the
patient's body.
Treatments last from 2 ½ to 4 ½ hours. During this time, the
dialysis staff checks the patient's blood pressure
frequently and adjusts the dialysis machine to ensure that the proper amount of
fluid is being removed from the patients body. Patients can read, watch
television, sleep, or do other work during treatment.
Peritoneal Dialysis
Peritoneal dialysis requires the
patient to play a more active role in their dialysis treatment. Of primary
importance is the
patient's responsibility for maintaining a clean surface on the
abdomen, where
treatment is administered, in order to prevent infection.
In this process, the patient weighs herself/himself to
determine the fluid to be used. The patient then puts on a mask and cleans the
peritoneal catheter site. Fluid that has been allowed to stay in the peritoneal
cavity is drained back into the plastic bag that originally contained the fluid.
The patient then disconnects this bag and connects a new bag of solution that is
allowed to drain into
the peritoneal cavity. Once the fluid is in the body, the new bag is
rolled up and placed in the patient's underwear until the next
treatment. This procedure usually takes 30 minutes to accomplish and
must be done four to five times a day.
As an alternative to this treatment, some patients on peritoneal
dialysis use a machine called a "cycler." This cycler is used every
night. Five to six bags of dialysis fluid is used on the cycler and
the machine automatically changes the fluid while the patient
sleeps.
Next: What are the advantages of the different types of dialysis? »
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