General Information About Dialysis

It is the process of removing harmful substances such as urea and excess water from the body through a membrane (dialyzer). It is used in the treatment of advanced kidney failure. Dialysis treatment regulates some of the impaired kidney function and ensures that life continues. Patients with advanced renal failure 30-40 years ago would be lost within days to weeks. Advances in dialysis technology have prolonged the life span of these patients and then increased the quality of life.

Dialysis treatment can be applied in two ways.
1. Hemodialysis
2. Peritoneal dialysis

1. Hemodialysis

It was first made by Kolff, a Dutch physician, in 1944. It is the process of cleaning the patient’s blood with a special membrane by means of machines. Sufficient blood flow must be provided for a hemodialysis process to be performed, a membrane and hemodialysis machine are required. To ensure adequate blood flow, a window (arteriovenous fistula) should be created between the patient’s beats and vein or a temporary catheter should be inserted into the patient’s large vein.
Hemodialysis treatment is applied 2-3 times a week for 4-6 hours depending on the severity of kidney failure and the amount of urine. Inadequate hemodialysis treatment can lead to injury and death in the patient. Hemodialysis treatment is usually applied in the hospital or in a hemodialysis unit. However, it can also be applied at home with suitable machinery and equipment.
There are about 61 thousand 341 hemodialysis patients in Turkey.

2. Peritoneal dialysis

Peritoneum is the medical term for the membrane around organs in the abdominal cavity. The surface area of ​​the peritoneal membrane (membrane) in humans is about 2 m2. Peritoneal membrane is used in peritoneal dialysis (instead of a special membrane unlike hemodialysis). It was first performed by Ganter in 1923. 3 technical elements are needed for peritoneal dialysis to take place:

1.The catheter placed in the abdomen
2.Suitable dialysis fluid
3.Connection system between catheter and dialysis fluid
Peritoneal dialysis treatment can be applied in different ways. The most common technique among these is continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis. Different peritoneal dialysis techniques have been developed using the peritoneal dialysis machine.
Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis
It is a simple method in which the dialysis fluid filled in the peritoneal cavity is replaced with a new one after waiting 4-8 hours. It is usually done 4 times a day in the hospital or at home. The most important advantage is that it can be done by the patient at home. Education is very important for this treatment to be successful. There are about 3,300 peritoneal dialysis patients in Turkey.

Patients can choose from hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis if there is no medical disability.