Dialysis Is The Process Of Cleansing - 1241 Words

What is Dialysis? Dialysis is the process of cleansing the blood whether it be through hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis. It is used to replace the kidney of a kidney failure patient. As said by The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease (NIDDK), â€Å"Hemodialysis uses a special filter called a dialyzer that functions as an artificial kidney to clean your blood.† The NIDDK also said that peritoneal dialysis was when â€Å"A mixture of minerals and sugar dissolved in water, called dialysis solution, travels through a catheter into your belly.† But wait, there are still more questions to answer. When thinking about dialysis, three questions come to mind; what is it, what is the process, and is there an alternative method to†¦show more content†¦Hemodialysis is also done in a doctor’s office. Peritoneal dialysis is done at home or in the patients private setting. Next, we answer the question, how is it done? Well hemodialysis is done by first having a looped graft surgically inserted into the arm. Then, 2 needles are inserted into a vein. One is used to remove the blood and one is used to return the clean blood. When the blood is removed it is monitored by an arterial pressure monitor. It then goes through a blood pump to a Heparin pump to prevent clotting. The next step is passing through a dialyzer inflow pressure monitor. After that, the blood goes through the dialyzer which is said by the NIKKD to â€Å"filter(s) out wastes, extra salt, and extra water.† The now clean blood travels through the tubes to a venous pressure monitor and air trap/air detector. Lastly the air and toxic free blood is processed through an air detector clamp and put back into the body. Hemodialysis is done three to five times a week for four to five hours at a time in a designated facility. Peritoneal Dialysis is can be done by the patient in their own home and without any help. The process starts with surgically inputting a catheter in the chest or abdomen of the patient for putting in and taking out the