What is dialysis?
Dialysis is a treatment that filters and purifies the blood using a machine. This helps keep your fluids and electrolytes in balance when the kidneys can’t do their job. Dialysis has been used since the 1940s to treat people with kidney problems.
Dialysis does the work of your kidneys, removing waste products and excess fluid from the blood.

How do I prepare for dialysis?
Before your first dialysis treatment, your doctor will surgically implant a tube or device to gain access to your bloodstream. This is typically a quick operation. You should be able to return home the same day.
It’s best to wear comfortable clothing during your dialysis treatments. Also, follow your doctor’s instructions. These may include fasting for a certain amount of time before the treatment.

What are the types of dialysis?
There are two ways to get dialysis:
• Hemodialysis.
• Peritoneal dialysis

Hemodialysis
With hemodialysis, a machine removes blood from your body, filters it through a dialyzer (artificial kidney), and returns the cleaned blood to your body. This 3- to 5-hour process may take place in a hospital or a dialysis center three times a week.

Peritoneal dialysis
With peritoneal dialysis, tiny blood vessels inside the abdominal lining (peritoneum) filter blood through the aid of a dialysis solution. This solution is a type of cleaning liquid that contains water, salt, and other additives.

Risks
• Low blood pressure (hypotension).
• Muscle cramps
• Itching
• Sleep problems
• Anemia
• Bone diseases
• High blood pressure (hypertension)
• Fluid overload