Dialysis Department
WHAT IS DIALYSIS?
Dialysis is primarily used as renal replacement therapy to provide an artificial replacement for lost kidney function due to renal failure. Dialysis may be used for very sick patients who have suddenly but temporarily, lost their kidney function (acute renal failure) or for quite stable patients who have permanently lost their kidney function (stage 5 chronic kidney disease).
For patients with stage 5 or End-Stage Kidney Disease (ESKD), the decline in kidney function occurs over a period of months to years until a level is reached at which treatment is needed for survival. The best available treatment for ESKD is a kidney transplant; however, some patients are not good candidates for a transplant due to medical or other reasons, some cannot receive a transplant because of the short supply of donor kidneys, and others simply decide that a transplant is not the best option for them. As a result, most patients with ESKD must rely on dialysis to replace the water and waste removal functions of the healthy kidneys; though dialysis is an imperfect treatment to replace kidney function because it does not correct the endocrine functions of the kidney.
OUR DIALYSIS UNIT
Our Dialysis Unit is located in level-5 (OPD) of the hospital, providing both hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis (the two primary types of dialysis). With 10 single hemodialysis machines, the unit is providing dialysis services for its patients on an out-patient and in-patient basis. Our Dialysis Unit has portable machines for dialysis of patients at their bed side, as well as dedicated machines for patients who have infectious diseases like Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and others. Our dialyser machines are disinfected with sodium chloride and auto rinse cleaning system after completion of each dialysis cycle. Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy (CRRT) is practiced at bed side for patients who have very low diastolic blood pressure (even less than 60 mm Hg). Before the procedure at Our Dialysis Center, patients are screened for infectious disease like Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C or HIV. If diagnosed positive, dialysis machines specific for infection positive patients are used.
Our Dialysis Unit is open from 8.00 am to 6.00 pm every day of the week. With high level of experience and skill, the medical and nursing staff keeps the dialysis patients under close observation and monitoring. The unit and its patients are directly supervised and followed-up by our highly experienced Nephrology Consultants.
HOW DOES DIALYSIS WORK?
Hemodialysis removes wastes and water by circulating blood outside the body through an external filter, called a “dialyzer” that contains a semi-permeable membrane. The blood flows in one direction and the dialysate (special dialysis fluid) flows in the opposite; the counter-current flow of the blood and dialysate helps to remove more urea and creatinine from the blood. The undesirably high blood concentrations of potassium, phosphorus, and urea) are constantly replaced by dialysis solution having levels of minerals like potassium and calcium that similar to the natural concentration of healthy blood.
In peritoneal dialysis, wastes and water are removed from the blood inside the body using the peritoneal membrane as a natural semipermeable membrane into a special dialysis solution, called dialysate, in the abdominal cavity which has a composition similar to the fluid portion of blood.
Peritoneal dialysis works slower than hemodialysis, but because it is carried out for a longer period of time the net effect in terms of removal of waste products and of salt and water are similar to hemodialysis. Peritoneal dialysis can be carried out at home by the patient. Although support is helpful, it is not essential. It does free patients from the routine of having to go to a dialysis clinic on a fixed schedule multiple times per week, and it can be done while traveling with a minimum of specialized equipment.