Hemodialysis

STEP BY STEP
 Hemodialysis
Dialysis is an artificial way to remove harmful waste and excess salt and
fluid from your blood when your kidneys can no longer do so on their own.
Hemodialysis is the most common type of dialysis.
During hemodialysis, a needle is inserted into your arm through a special
access point. Your blood is then directed through the needle and special
tubing to a machine called a dialyzer, which filters your blood a few ounces
at a time. The filtered blood returns to your body through another needle.
Hemodialysis helps you live, work and enjoy life despite failing kidneys.
 Check your numbers
Most people receive hemodialysis three times a week in a dialysis center.
Each session takes about three to five hours. Some people choose more
frequent — but shorter — dialysis sessions.
When you arrive at the dialysis center, a member of your health care
team will check and record your weight, blood pressure, pulse and
temperature. If you choose to do so, you may be able to do this yourself.
Then the skin covering your venous access site — the point where blood
leaves for cleansing and then re-enters your body during treatment — will
be cleansed, and the two needles used during treatment will be inserted.
 Treatment begins
Once the needles are inserted, they'll be taped in place to remain
secure. During treatment, you sit or recline in a chair while your blood
flows through the dialyzer.
Hemodialysis itself doesn't hurt. However, you may experience nausea
and abdominal cramps as excess fluid is pulled from your body —
especially if you have hemodialysis three times a week (conventional
hemodialysis) rather than six times a week (daily hemodialysis).
If you're uncomfortable during treatment, ask your dialysis care team
about adjusting your medication or changing your diet or fluid intake to
minimize side effects
Watch TV, read or nap

During treatment, you can watch

television, read, take a nap or do
other sedentary activities. Some
people use this time to catch up on
phone calls.
 Check your
blood pressure and heart rate

Your blood pressure and heart rate

can fluctuate as excess fluid is pulled
from your body. You or a member of
your health care team will check your
blood pressure and heart rate several
times during each treatment.
 Get an update
During treatment, members of your
health care team will update you on
your care and answer your questions.
When treatment is complete, the
needles will be removed from your
access site and a pressure dressing will
be applied to the site to prevent
bleeding. You're free to go about your
usual activities until your next
treatment session.