What is the importance of dialysis?

　　Dialysis is used to treat End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) - the last stage of kidney failure. Dialysis is usually the last option for treatment prior to kidney transplant, and is often the only option for those for whom kidney transplant is not a viable option. Preserving kidney function is important in prolonging the survival rate in dialysis patients, although as the name of the disease implies, dialysis is usually used in the final stage of kidney disease. However, ESRD can last months or even many years, especially for young people, such as Gary Coleman, the actor who has been treated with dialysis for decades.
　　Dialysis is for people who's kidney function is not adequate enough to get rid of the body's waste and excess fluid. If the kidneys can not rid the body of it's waste, than that waste and excess fluid accumulates in the body and that's obviously not good.
　　Dialysis filters that waste and excess fluid out of the body by mechanical means. When hooked to a dialysis machine, the waste is removed from the bloodstream along with excess fluid. Dialysis patients are weighted daily because of the excess fluids that accumulate in the body. After a dialysis treatment, patients can lose several pounds of fluids.
　　Hemodialysis removes excess fluids and toxins from the body that formerly were filtered by the kidneys. It is done for those in end stage kidney disease, or for some temporarily to allow damaged kidneys to recover.
　　Dialysis can be done in several ways, five methods are done by the individual at home they are: Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) - a manual form of peritoneal dialysis, with no machine, Continuous cycling peritoneal dialysis (CCPD) - also known as Automated Peritoneal Dialysis (APD), a form of peritoneal dialysis using a cycler at night, Conventional home hemodialysis - three-times-a-week hemo at home, Daily home hemodialysis - short (2-3 hour) treatments, 5-6 days a week, Nocturnal home hemodialysis - nightly 6-8 hour treatments, 3+ days a week. These methods do not involve removing the blood from your body. Then there is the traditional form where you go to a dialysis facility, and tubes are connected to an atrio-ventricular fistula (shunt) and your blood is taken out, filtered in a machine and returned cleaned. This is done 3 times a week and takes about 4 hours.

　　Dialysis does not do as good a job as your kidneys, all types of dialysis require you to monitor your diet, some forms are more restrictive than others, but you usually have to limit your fluid intake, your intake of potassium, phosphorus and sodium. Without dialysis, death will occur within a relatively short period of time.