Understanding Renal Dialysis: A Lifeline for Kidney Failure Patients
Renal dialysis is a vital medical treatment designed to perform the essential functions of the kidneys when they are no longer able to work adequately. The kidneys play a critical role in filtering waste, maintaining fluid and electrolyte balance, and regulating blood pressure. When these organs fail due to chronic kidney disease (CKD) or acute kidney injury, dialysis becomes a life-sustaining intervention that helps remove toxins and excess fluid from the blood. Although dialysis cannot cure kidney failure, it enables patients to lead longer, healthier lives while awaiting a kidney transplant or as a long-term treatment option.
Types of Renal Dialysis
There are two main types of dialysis: hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis.
Hemodialysis involves using a dialysis machine and a special filter called a dialyzer to clean the blood. During the procedure, blood is drawn from the patient’s body, passed through…