Hemodialysis Background

    With today's advanced medicine, people who suffer from chronic renal failure have more options than either a kidney transplant, medicines, or death. Dialysis is a way to lengthen the patient's lifespan and maintain health and quality of life. Hemodialysis is a well-known form of dialysis performed. Dialysis development dates back to the 1940s with developments of artificial kidneys by Dr. Kolff and his research gave way to other doctors to continue to find a solution to kidney failure. In the 1960s, Dr. Belding Scribner found a way for ESRD patients to received treatment through an access point in their arm was when hemodialysis was discovered. At first, Dr. Scribner opened his dialysis clinic until he developed a portable dialysis machine to be used at home for patients. In today's world, over 90 percent of dialysis users still receive treatment at dialysis centers but there are various options for treatment. 

    Hemodialysis is defined as a therapeutic procedure that will utilize extracorporeal circulation of a patient's blood to ameliorate the azotemia, fluid, electrolyte, and acid-base abnormalities characteristic of the uremic syndrome. A machine is used to clean the toxins from the bloodstream that mimics the normal function of the kidney. A dialysis machine is used and pumps the patient's blood through the machine, returning the cleaned blood back to the patient. The hemodialysis machine will clean out the salts, sugars, and fluids from the body; patients tend to notice the decreased swelling after attending dialysis. Hemodialysis is usually performed 3-4 times per week. In order for this type of dialysis to work properly, patients will need to follow a strict schedule, proper use of medication, and follow an approved hemodialysis diet. Becoming a hemodialysis patient requires a commitment to one's health along with the need to want to feel better. In order to begin hemodialysis treatment, a team of healthcare professionals is needed and the most trusted source. 

    Hemodialysis is the most commonly known type of dialysis and is used to treat chronic renal failure. Hemodialysis gives patients with kidney failure a chance to enjoy a longer and healthier life. Having chronic renal (kidney) disease is a common disease in America; dialysis is a way to maintain normal kidney function while also improving the quality of life. It is estimated that 





Pictured is how the hemodialysis machine and mechanisms are useful in clearing out the toxins of the body that the kidney is unable to do so by itself. The dialysate is useful for taking the toxins out of the blood. 


Sources: 
A Brief History of Dialysis. (2016, March 10). Dialysis Patient Citizens Education Center. https://www.dpcedcenter.org/news-events/news/a-brief-history-of-dialysis/

Ammirati A. L. (2020). Chronic Kidney Disease. Revista da Associacao Medica Brasileira (1992), 66Suppl 1(Suppl 1), s03–s09. https://doi.org/10.1590/1806-9282.66.S1.3

Elliott DA. Hemodialysis. Clin Tech Small Anim Pract. 2000 Aug;15(3):136-48. doi: 10.1053/svms.2000.18297. PMID: 11109715.

Hemodialysis. (2021). Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/
     hemodialysis/about/pac-20384824

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