Hemodialysis
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Hemodialysis
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Dialysis is a mechanical process that performs the work of healthy kidneys. Hemodialysis uses a man-made membrane (dialyzer) to filter wastes, remove extra fluid from the blood, restore the proper balance of chemicals in the blood, and eliminate extra fluid (edema) from the body.
Before dialysis can begin, the doctor has to create a dialysis access. For hemodialysis, the access is the place where the dialysis needles are inserted to send the blood to and from the dialysis machine. This is usually done by connecting an artery and a vein (fistula) or using a tube (graft) to connect an artery and a vein in the forearm.
Credits
| Primary Medical Reviewer | E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine |
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | D.C. Mendelssohn, MD, FRCPC - Nephrology |
| Last Updated | June 14, 2007 |
| Last updated: | June 14, 2007 |
|---|---|
| Reviewed By: | E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine, D.C. Mendelssohn, MD, FRCPC - Nephrology |
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