Dialysis

When your kidneys are healthy, they clean your blood. They also make hormones that keep your bones strong and your blood healthy. When your kidneys fail, you need treatment to replace the work your kidneys used to do. Unless you have a kidney transplant, you will need a treatment called dialysis.

There are two main types of dialysis: hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. Both types filter your blood to rid your body of harmful wastes, extra salt and water. Hemodialysis does that with a machine. Peritoneal dialysis uses the lining of your abdomen, called the peritoneal membrane, to filter your blood. Each type has both risks and benefits. They also require that you follow a special diet. Your doctor can help you decide the best type of dialysis for you.

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Dialysis on Wikipedia

:''This article is about clinical dialysis; for the laboratory technique, see Dialysis (biochemistry)'' In medicine, '''dialysis''' is a method for removing waste such as urea from the blood when the kidneys are incapable of this, i.e. in renal failure.

The decision to dialyse

In acute renal failure, dialysis is generally initiated when the renal function has deteriorated to an extent that it is threatening the body's physiology. In chronic renal failure (or ''end-stage renal failure'', ESRD), the problem is usually longstanding, and decision is based on the possibility of a renal transplant, complications of the malfunctioning kidney (e.g. hyperkalemia, uremia) and personal factors (such as tiredness due to the uremia).

Types of dialysis

The two types of dialysis are '''hemodialysis''' and '''peritoneal dialysis'''. * In ''hemodialysis'', the patient's blood is passed through a tube to a semipermeable membrane (dialyser) that filters out waste products. The cleansed blood is then returned back to the body. * In ''peritoneal dialysis'', a special solution is run through a tube into the peritoneum, the abdomen body cavity around the intestine. The fluid is left there for a while to absorb waste products, and then removed through the tube.

Hemodialysis

The principle of hemodialysis ''(UK: haemodialysis)'' is somewhat different. It works by having the blood flow along one side of a semipermeable membrane, with the dialysis solution flowing along the other side. Due to the difference in osmolarity between the two liquids, water traverses the membrane in order to dilute the dialysis liquid, carrying along the unwanted blood contents. The dialysing fluid is used at body temperature, and consists of a solution of glucose, amino ... [ Read More ]

External Resources

Fleckvalves - Home and industrial water treatment equipment including softening, filtration, reverse osmosis. Water systems for Kidney Dialysis Centers and patients are also available.

The Renal Gourmet - A cookbook written for dialysis patients or anyone that is interested in a low salt, sodium, potassium, phosphorus diet.

HTDialysis - Unique 96-well equilibrium dialysis block with novel vertical alignment of dialysis membrane. Dispense and aspirate from both sample and dialysate side. Analyze a large number of samples, time points, or replicates in the same experiment.

Spectrum Laboratories - Technologies for in vitro cell culture, laboratory dialysis and filters, including Spectra/Por membranes and Microgon hollow fibers. Ordering options include account login, and contacts for international dealers and HQ in Rancho Dominguez, CA.

The Answers for All of Your Laboratory Dialysis Questions - Bulletin board for the discussion of laboratory dialysis methods and apparatus.

The Nest Group - Distributor of HPLC columns, micro dialysis membranes and kits, equilibrium dialysis plates, and other products for general use in analytical and bio-chemistry laboratory.

Nest Group - Protocols, applications and pricing for HPLC columns, micro dialysis kits, 96 well dialysis or equilibrium dialysis plates, and micro SPE Tips for LC-MS samples.

Laboratory Dialysis Answers - Discussion board for laboratory dialysis tips and techniques, moderated by Spectrum Laboratories, Inc.

SciLog, Inc. - Designs, manufactures and distributes pumping systems, including preparative scale, specializing in protein dialysis and tangential flow filtration. Includes distribution within the USA, based in Middleton, Wisconsin.