What is dialysis?

Dialysis is an important medical treatment for kidney failure, primarily used to replace some functions of the kidneys. When a patient's kidneys can no longer effectively filter waste, excess salts, and fluids from the blood, dialysis can help the body remove these harmful substances. There are mainly two types of dialysis:

1. Hemodialysis: This involves removing the patient's blood from the body and passing it through a special filter called a dialyzer, which simulates the filtering function of the kidneys, removing toxins and excess fluid from the blood. During hemodialysis, the blood comes into contact with a solution containing specific substances (dialysate) within the dialyzer. Toxins pass through a semipermeable membrane into the dialysate, after which the cleaned blood is returned to the body.

2. Peritoneal dialysis: This uses the peritoneum (a thin membrane lining the abdominal cavity) as a natural filter. A sterile solution known as dialysate is introduced into the abdominal cavity through a catheter. The solution absorbs waste products from the blood. After a period of time, the used dialysate is drained and replaced with fresh solution to continue removing waste products.