Haemodialysis A brief introduction

What is haemodialysis?

In haemodialysis, an artificial kidney (haemodialyser) is used to remove waste and extra chemicals
and fluid from your blood. To get your blood into the
artificial kidney, the doctor needs to make an access (entrance) into your blood vessels. This is
done by minor surgery to your arm or leg.
Sometimes, an access is made by joining an artery
to a vein under your skin to make a bigger blood
vessel called a fistula.
However, if your blood vessels are not adequate for
a fistula, the doctor may use a soft plastic tube to
join an artery and a vein under your skin. This is
called a graft.
Another form of access is made by means of a
narrow plastic tube, called a catheter, neck. This
type of access may be temporary, but is sometimes
used for long-term treatment.

Why do I need dialysis?

You need dialysis because you have suffered

kidney (renal) failure. Your kidneys have stopped
or almost stopped working. The kidneys are the
bodys filter system, getting rid of toxins and chemicals you do not need, and keeping the fluid and
chemicals you do need.
Kidney failure, if left untreated, is fatal but modern
medicine has provided us with a life saving
treatment DIALYSIS.

How long do haemodialysis treatments

last?

The time needed for your dialysis depends on:

how well your kidneys work
how much fluid weight you gain between
treatments
how much waste you have in your body
how big you are
the type of dialyser (artificial kidney) used
Usually, each haemodialysis treatment lasts about
four hours and is done three times per week.

How long has dialysis been available?

Haemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis have been

done since the mid 1940s. Dialysis, as a regular
treatment, was begun in 1960 and is now a
standard treatment all around the world. CAPD
began in 1976. Thousands of patients have been
helped by these treatments.
Dialysis is now a safe procedure, with thousands of
patients receiving treatment around the world.

Will dialysis help cure the kidney disease?

No. Dialysis does some of the work of healthy

kidneys, but it does not cure your kidney disease.
You will need to have dialysis treatments for your
whole life unless you are able to get a kidney
transplant.

Is dialysis uncomfortable?

You may have some discomfort when the needles

are put into your fistula or graft, but most patients
have no other problems. The dialysis treatment
itself is painless. However, some patients may
have a drop in their blood pressure. If this happens,
you may feel sick to your stomach, vomit, have a
head-ache or cramps. With frequent treatments,
those problems usually go away.
However, if you ever feel unwell on dialysis always
tell the nurse. It may be possible to alter your treatment somehow to reduce the symptoms you feel.

Will Dialysis keep me well?

We cannot promise that you will feel as well on

dialysis as you did before kidney failure, as there is
no real substitute for your own healthy kidneys. But
to keep you as well as possible your treatment will
consist of 3 main elements dialysis, diet and
drugs.
The haemodialysis diet is quite strict and can take
some getting used to. There will be limits on your
intake of fluid, and you will need to be careful of
foods high in sodium and potassium. But with
imagination you can still cook tasty meals. Well
give you more information on your diet later in
another booklet. Your care team will also explain
your diet to you in detail.
There are a number of drugs which you need to
take to help prevent some of the complications of
dialysis we will also cover these later. However,
there will be times when you will feel tired and fedup. This is the same as with any chronic illness.
But with care and by following the advice you are
given, you will be able to carry out most normal
activities.

Are there any complications?

There are a number of common complications

associated with kidney failure and dialysis. These
include anaemia, cramp, dry and itchy skin, weight
loss. Long term complications may include depression, diminished sexual function, abnormal bone
regeneration and bone pain.
Although these are common complications it does
not mean that you will experience all of them! We
will also cover these questions later.
Many patients have reported that dialysis and a
drug called EPO (which helps to prevent anaemia)
improves many of the symptoms they experienced
before dialysis itchy, tiredness, mood swings and
poor sleep patterns.

Do dialysis patients feel normal?

Many patients live normal lives except for the time

needed for treatments. Dialysis usually makes you
feel better because it helps many of the problems
caused by kidney failure. You and your family will
need time to get used to dialysis.

How long can you live on dialysis?

We do not yet know how long patients on dialysis

will live. We think that some dialysis patients may
live as long as people without kidney failure.
By following the advice that you given by the
nursing and medical staff it is possible to prevent
may of the possible complications associated with
renal failure. We will cover may of this points later
on in the KEY Program

Can dialysis patients travel?

Yes. Dialysis centres are located in every part of

the of the world. The treatment is standardized.
You must make an appointment for dialysis
treatments at another centre before you go. The
staff at your centre will help you make the
arrangements.

Can dialysis patients continue to work or

study?

Many dialysis patients can go back to work after

they have gotten used to dialysis. If your job has a
lot of physical labour (heavy lifting, digging, etc.),
you may need to consider a different job.
Equally you will be able to continue studying.
In both cases, discuss your needs with the dialysis
team and they will try to accommodate your
dialysis sessions to fit in with your work or study.

If I am not coping who can I talk to?

The dialysis centre will always have qualified

nursing and medical staff with whom you can raise
your concerns. Also there will be links with social
workers, psychologists and dieticians if you have
more specific needs.
All of the staff have a wealth of experience and will
be able to listen to you and help. There are thousands of patients who have successfully passed
through the difficult early stages of renal failure.
The important thing is to remember you do not
have to cope with this alone.

So what next?

Now you have read through this a nurse or doctor

will come back to answer any other questions you
might have. Remember, you can ask questions at
any time.
There will be other booklets for you to read later
that will include the following topics:
Haemodialysis a brief introduction
How does haemodialysis work?
Looking after your vascular access
Managing you fluid intake
The dialysis diet
Common drugs used on dialysis
Increasing your independence
Transplantation
We hope that this will help you to adapt to dialysis,
helping you to feel better.
Remember, you can ask questions about your
treatment at any time.

B.Braun Avitum AG | Schwarzenberger Weg 73-79 | 34212 Melsungen | Germany

Tel. +49 5661 71-2624 | Fax +49 5661 75-2624 | dialysis@bbraun.com | www.bbraun-dialysis.com