Kidneys have very important functions in the body. Kidneys remove waste
from the blood, produce urine, regulate electrolytes and release certain
hormones. When the kidneys are not functioning properly, as in kidney
disease, dialysis may be necessary. Dialysis is a process that aids in
the cleaning of the blood by removing waste and excess fluid. It has
been a treatment option for those with kidney disease since the 1940s.
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Treatment
for chronic kidney disease is a lifelong process. Patients undergoing
dialysis need treatment at least a few times a week based on the
severity of their condition. Patients with kidney disease have a few
options. Hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis are the two types of
dialysis for those with chronic kidney disease. Dialysis is needed for
the remainder of the patient's life unless a kidney transplant is an
option. Dialysis is a way to extend quality and length of life and most
research suggests those on dialysis could possibly live as long as
healthy individuals without kidney disease, according to the National
Kidney Foundation.
Most
people in need of dialysis are on hemodialysis. According to the
NKUDIC, over 300,000 people are on hemodialysis. Hemodialysis is where
blood is removed, filtered and then returned to the patient through a
dialyzer. A patient is hooked up to a machine for a few hours at a time,
usually three to five hours in order to adequately clean the blood. The
machine uses a pump and dialysis solution, which helps pull toxins from
the blood and return clean blood to a main vein into the body.
Hemodialysis machines are very expensive; the American Association of
Kidney Patients report dialysis costs nearly $30,000 a year. Medicare
usually covers around 80 percent of the cost. Installing a machine at
home can cost even more with nearly $2,000 in piping, tubing and
installation costs.
Patients
on dialysis need to have continuous monitoring of their blood to make
sure the treatment is effective. Their diets are also restrictive as
some minerals are not as effectively cleaned out by dialysis. Protein is
cleaned out in the blood in dialysis so patients usually have a higher
need for protein in their diets. Dietitians, social workers, nurses and
doctors all work together with patients on dialysis to provide them with
care to make their lives as normal as possible. As of 2006, the NKUDIC
stated the probability of patients surviving on dialysis after one year
is 78.7 percent. After two and five years the probability decreases to
64.3 percent and 33.1 percent, respectively.
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