Dialysis - a procedure that saves lives every day

Millions of adults suffer from chronic kidney disease. As the disease initially develops with little or no symptoms, as many as 90% of patients do not know that there is something wrong with their kidneys. Dialysis in Delhi may be necessary when this organ is damaged and cannot function properly, explains the Nephrologist in Delhi. What is? What are the indications for its implementation? What steps should be taken when dialysis is not enough?

What is dialysis?

Dialysis is a method that aims to replace the physiological functions of the kidney. This organ removes harmful metabolic products from the body (including metabolites of taken drugs), which ensures metabolic balance, normalizes blood pH, maintains normal blood pressure and helps to get rid of toxins from the body. The treatment uses the properties of a semi-permeable membrane, which allows for effective purification of electrolytes from colloidal solutions. This membrane retains some of the compounds and allows the rest to flow freely. This is possible thanks to a phenomenon called diffusion. Thus, the more blood reaches the membrane, the more effective dialysis will be, explains the Best Nephrologist in Delhi.

What are the indications for dialysis?

In most cases, patients with renal insufficiency and after poisoning, e.g. with ethylene glycol, are eligible for the dialysis in Delhi.

It is worth noting that dialysis therapy completely disorganizes the patient’s life. Regardless of whether the procedures take place in a dialysis centre or at the patient’s home, the patient must take into account the need to spend about 15 hours a week (3-5 hours on average every other day). Dialysis is a heavy burden on the circulatory system, so the patient has the right to feel tired after the procedure and requires rest. If the catheter connection procedure is not performed under sterile conditions, there is a risk of developing an infection, warns the Kidney Specialist in Delhi.

Dialysis is undoubtedly life-saving, but it is burdensome for the patient and ties him to the place of residence and the dialysis centre in Delhi.

Types of dialysis and their course

There are two types of dialysis:

  1. Hemodialysis – performed extracorporeal. It is used in advanced kidney diseases and is carried out using the so-called artificial kidney. Two needles are most often used during the procedure. One of them drains blood to the dialyzer and the other brings purified blood into the body. The purpose of hemodialysis is to remove all harmful substances from the blood that could not be removed with the urine due to impaired kidney function. This type of dialysis is performed at a dialysis station, and approximately 50 liters of blood pass through an artificial kidney during one session.

  2. Peritoneal dialysis – the patient’s peritoneum is used as a semipermeable membrane. The dialysis fluid is introduced into the abdominal cavity of the patient, the composition of which has been selected in such a way as to be able to effectively retain harmful metabolic products. Thus, the blood pH and blood pressure are balanced and the body gets rid of undesirable substances. Before the procedure, it is necessary to implant a catheter into the peritoneal cavity (about 2 months before the planned dialysis). The procedure is usually performed at the patient’s home, which requires a short training course for both the patient and the person who is caring for him.

Dialysis saves lives, but transplantation is definitely the better treatment option

Kidney transplant in Delhi is an effective renal replacement therapy. It should be performed in patients for whom transplantation is not contraindicated.

It is most beneficial for the patient to obtain a kidney from a living donor. After transplantation, such an organ functions on average for about 15 years and successfully performs all physiological functions. The best situation is when the donor is a closely related family member – a sibling or parent. It is not uncommon for the organ to be donated by people who are in an emotional relationship with the needy, e.g. spouses or friends. An organ for transplantation can also be obtained from a dead donor, however, it is associated with a slightly worse treatment effect. Such a kidney functions on average for 9-12 years.

Before donating an organ, the donor must undergo a number of necessary diagnostic and laboratory tests. Not only is his general health assessed, but also a histocompatibility test. This reduces the risk of possible transplant rejection, says the kidney transplant doctor in Delhi.

Contraindications to live kidney transplantation are:

  1. advanced age of the patient,

  2. active neoplastic diseases,

  3. severe damage to internal organs (mainly the heart),

  4. conditions that cannot be treated,

  5. addictions, including smoking or alcohol addiction,

  6. some chronic diseases, e.g. generalized atherosclerosis.

It is worth remembering that kidney transplantation doubles the life of patients compared to dialysis and significantly improves their quality of life. He does not have to give up his current lifestyle and most importantly, he is not dependent on dialysis, states the Nephrologist in Delhi.