In-center hemodialysis - How does it work?
The information provided is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. A licensed healthcare professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.
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Hemodialysis (HD) is a process by which excess fluids and toxins are mechanically filtered from the blood when the kidneys can't perform properly. During your treatment, you sit or lie next to a hemodialysis machine in a clinical setting. A nurse or technician places two needles into a vein in your forearm. This is called an "access". One needle is connected to tubing, which takes your blood out of your body to be cleaned and pumped by a machine through a dialyzer. All your blood is filtered through the dialyzer several times. Throughout the treatment, the blood goes back into your body through tubing attached to the other needle. This continuous filtering process typically lasts 3-4 hours per treatment, performed 3-4 days a week.
Is in-center hemodialysis right for you?
Some patients choose in-center hemodialysis because it requires treatment 3-4 days per week rather than every day. Other patients enjoy the personal interaction with other dialysis patients. While other patients prefer the comfort and convenience of performing hemodialysis treatments at home, not everyone may have a dedicated care partner to assist in the home treatments, which is why in-center hemodialysis may also be more preferable. (More information on home hemodialysis.) Every patient is different, so it is important to talk to a healthcare professional to help you determine which method of dialysis would be the right option for you.
Hemodialysis Access
To place an access to your blood, a surgeon will perform an operation.
If possible, the surgeon will attach a vein and an artery together to form a fistula. This is the best possible type of access. If your veins are small or weak, the surgeon inserts a graft instead. This is a soft tube connected to an artery on one end and a vein on the other. Blood runs through the graft. Both a fistula and a graft are underneath the skin. A permanent access can take up to a few
months to heal properly. If you need dialysis before a permanent access is in place, the doctor will create a temporary access. This is done by placing a special tube, called a catheter, in a large blood vessel under the collarbone or in the leg.
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