What is Hemodialysis?

Due to the inability of the kidneys to perform their functions, substances such as urea, creatinine, phosphorus and potassium increase in blood levels. While these substances, which are harmful to the body, are normally excreted in the urine, this process is done with the help of a dialysis machine with the hemodialysis method in patients with chronic kidney failure. Hemodialysis is the process in which the dirty blood of the patient is taken into the dialysis machine and cleaned and then the blood is given back to the patient. The blood taken from the patient using a fistula, graft or catheter is passed through capillary filters called dialyzers inside the dialysis machine. Toxic substances that need to be removed from the body are mixed with the dialysis fluid, or in other words, the dialysate, which is located outside the filters, and thus they are removed from the blood. After the filtration process, the blood is balanced in terms of liquid and solute content and is given to the patient by intravenous route. The number of sessions per week of hemodialysis, the duration of the session, the dialyzer and dialysate used during dialysis are determined by the physician according to the physiological needs of the patient.

Who Is Hemodialysis For And What Are Their Symptoms?

In patients who develop chronic renal failure for different reasons, the number of nephrons, the smallest functional unit of the kidney, is irreversibly reduced. The body's water, electrolyte and pH balance is disrupted due to the kidneys' inability to function in a healthy way. This life-threatening situation is regulated by the hemodialysis method.

Therefore, hemodialysis is a widely applied method to meet the needs of chronic kidney patients who are waiting to be treated with kidney transplantation. In addition, hemodialysis can be applied in cases of acute renal failure where the kidneys cannot function temporarily. People with chronic kidney failure need to go to the doctor's control regularly. Thus, it can be easily determined how often and for how long the patient should undergo hemodialysis. What type of dialyzer the patient needs, and at what rate the blood and dialysate should circulate in the dialysis device during treatment are also determined. Patients with chronic kidney failure should report these symptoms to the physician if they show the following symptoms: Swelling in the legs Low or high heart rate Loss of consciousness or disorder Fatigue and weakness Shortness of breath Nausea Hiccups Appetite or weight loss Sleep disorders

How Does Hemodialysis Proceed?

Dialysis machines made for this purpose are used in the hemodialysis process. Water that is cleaned with special systems in the dialysis center comes to the machines. The density of minerals in the dialysis water is arranged in such a way that the waste materials accumulated in the patient are removed and the missing minerals are transferred to the patient. The blood taken from the patient circulates in the dialysis machine through the pump. Dialysis membranes are used to provide exchange between blood and dialysis. These membranes are made in the form of a system of hollow tubes, from which blood and dialysis water pass in opposite directions. The blood cleaned in this way is given to the patient again.

What are the Benefits of Hemodialysis?

When the kidneys can't function, the tasks of dialysis can be listed as removing waste, salt and excess water to prevent them from accumulating in the body, keeping certain chemicals in your blood, such as potassium, sodium and bicarbonate, at a safe level, and helping to control blood pressure. Dialysis is successfully performed at Yücelen Hospitals and Ortaca Dialysis Center.