Hemodialysis

1. What is Hemodialysis?

Hemodialysis is one kind of kidney replacement treatment. When patients’ kidney failure reached a certain level, they must be on dialysis to replace damaged part of kidney function to filter the blood and eliminate the waste product to maintain the life. The procedure is: patient’s blood is drawn to hemodialyzer by a catheter, and hemodialyzer with hemodialysis machine will simulate kidney function to eliminate the metabolic waste product and excessive fluid from the blood, then the blood which will be cleansed after flowing through the hemodialyzer will be back to patient body through another catheter. This process often takes about 3-5 hours, and 2-3 times one week.

2. The advantages and disadvantages for hemodialysis
Advantages: (1) this treatment often needs a long time and the scale is very wide; (2) it can eliminate the fluid and micromolecule toxins, if it can coordinate with other treatment mode, such as blood perfusion, it can also eliminate the middle and large molecule toxin and metabolic waste product; (3) patients may need receive this treatment in the regular time, the other time is not affected, and the medical staff will operate it.
Disadvantages: (1) currently, in China, patients must go to hospital to receive it which can just be operated by the professional staff, also, patients must limit activity for 3-5 hours; (2) the rate of hematogenous infection is higher than peritoneal dialysis, and patients with bleeding tendency and active bleeding are at a higher risk; (3) hemodialysis will affect circulatory system, so it has some requirements for basic cardiovascular function; (4) it has a little protecting effect for remain kidney function; (5) it has a strict diet requirement.

3. Who is not suitable to do hemodialysis?

Hemodialysis is a kind of kidney replacement treatment, but some patients may not be suitable to do it. For this part of patients, they can use other treatment methods. The patients who are not suitable for Hemodialysis include: (1) patients have shock or low blood pressure (blood pressure <80mmHg); (2) patients have serious myocardial lesions, pulmonary edema and heart failure; (3) patients have a poor heart function, and accompany with ischemic cardiomyopathy; (4) patients have Diabetes or patients who are difficult to establish vascular access; (5) patients don’t want to limit activities or want to do dialysis at home.