The dialysis solution contains water and chemicals that are added to safely remove wastes, extra salt, and fluid from your blood. Your nephrologist-a doctor who specializes in kidney problems-will prescribe a dialysis solution to meet your needs. In the filter, your blood flows inside hollow fibers that filter out wastes and extra salt and water. Filtered blood remains in the hollow fibers and returns to your body. Waste products from your blood move into the dialysis solution. As your blood passes through the hollow fibers, dialysis solution passes in the opposite direction on the outside of the fibers. What happens to my blood while it’s in the filter?īlood enters at one end of the filter and is forced into many, very thin, hollow fibers.

During the process, the dialysis machine checks your blood pressure and controls how quickly The dialysis machine pumps blood through the filter and returns the blood to your body. During hemodialysis, your blood is pumped through a filter, called a dialyzer. Each needle is attached to a soft tube connected to the dialysis machine. A numbing cream or spray can be used if placing the needles bothers you. You may prefer to put in your own needles after you’re trained by your health care team. A dialyzer is sometimes called an “artificial kidney.”Īt the start of a hemodialysis treatment, a dialysis nurse or technician places two needles into your arm. What happens during hemodialysis?ĭuring hemodialysis, your blood goes through a filter, called a dialyzer, outside your body.

Hemodialysis can help you feel better and live longer, but it’s not a cure for kidney failure. Hemodialysis helps control blood pressure and balance important minerals, such as potassium, sodium, and calcium, in your blood.

Hemodialysis is a treatment to filter wastes and water from your blood, as your kidneys did when they were healthy. What happens if I have been on dialysis and I decide to stop?.What are possible problems from hemodialysis?.How will I know if my hemodialysis is working?.What changes will I have to make when I start hemodialysis?.

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