FAQ's on Nephrology

Q- What is dialysis?

Ans- Dialysis is a medical process through which a person's blood is cleansed of the toxins or wastes that kidneys normally remove. It is used when a person's kidneys no longer function optimally. The purpose is to keep the right levels of chemicals, fluids and salts in the body so that body functions normally.

Q- Which doctor should I see if I have if I need Dialysis?

Ans- A Nephrologist or a Physician with interest in kidney diseases.

Q- How many types of dialysis are there?

Ans- Renal dialysis falls into two main divisions: haemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis.

Hemodialysis cleans and filters your blood using a machine to temporarily remove harmful wastes, extra salt, and extra water from your body. Hemodialysis is most often performed in a dialysis centre but home treatment options are also available.

Peritoneal dialysis uses the lining of your abdomen and dialysis solution (a mixture of minerals and sugar dissolved in water) to filter your blood removing wastes, chemicals and extra water from your body. After several hours, the used solution is drained from your abdomen through a tube and the cycle is repeated with fresh solution

Q- Which type of dialysis is better?

Ans- Both are good, choice usually depends on personal lifestyle of the patient and certain medical conditions like congestive heart failure, vascular access complications, diabetes etc. Hemodialysis is usually performed at a dialysis centre as compared to peritoneal dialysis which can be safely done at home .CAPD is usually preferred in children as they have small vessels which are difficult to cannulate and repeated needling is painful and difficult in them. Fluid intake can be more liberal in CAPD.

Q- Why does one put on weight in between hemodialysis?

Ans- Putting on weight between dialysis is usual. It is because all food that is consumed by you has some water/ fluid which is not excreted by the diseased kidneys. The amount of weight gain should not be more than 2.5 – 3 kg between two sessions of hemodialysis.

Q- Is it dangerous to skip dialysis?

Ans- Yes, this can lead to fluid overload and breathing problem. It can also increase your serum potassium level which can lead to serious cardiac complications. Therefore skipping dialysis can be life threatening.

Q- What is an access?

Ans- An access usually refers to a vein or vessel from which blood is taken to the dialysis machine and returned back .It can be a catheter, Arterio venous fistula or an Arterio venous graft.

The access which is usually a fistula, graft, or catheter should be taken care of and one should not wear tight clothing or jewellery on the access arm nor should blood pressure be checked on the arm.

Q- What basic precautions should a patient of dialysis take?

Ans- While on dialysis you should watch your diet. In case of any breathing trouble you should contact your doctor as you may require urgent dialysis. Care of the vascular access should be ensured as advised by your physician.