Dialysis, dialysis: What you need to know

The article was professionally consulted by Master, Doctor Nguyen Thi Thanh Thuy - Endocrinologist - Dialysis - Kidney Transplant - Department of Medical Examination & Internal Medicine - Vinmec Central Park International General Hospital.

The kidneys of a healthy person filter about 120-150 liters of blood every day, if the kidneys are not working efficiently, waste products will accumulate in the blood which can lead to coma, even death. At this time, dialysis or hemodialysis will help prevent waste products in the blood from reaching dangerous levels or remove toxins and drugs in an emergency. As such, dialysis and dialysis are both common names for a treatment that helps a patient's kidneys remove waste products and excess fluid from the blood when the kidneys can no longer do this.

In fact, there are many different types of dialysis, of which there are 3 main methods:
Intermittent hemodialysis (also known as cyclic hemodialysis) (Intermittent Hemodialysis - IHD) Peritoneal dialysis (Peritoneal dialysis) dialysis (PD) Continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) Each method of dialysis will be prescribed based on patient health factors, facilities at the medical facility as well as possible costs. patient responsiveness
2.1 Method of cyclic hemodialysis The principle of dialysis: the patient's blood is taken out by the conduit system, passing through the artificial filter, the blood is exchanged with the dialysis fluid. to remove excess urea and water toxins, which are then returned to the body.
Requirements for cyclic hemodialysis: the patient needs to have an adequate blood supply line for the dialysis (it can be through an arteriovenous bridge operated on the arm or through a catheter placed in a large vein).
Time of implementation: hemodialysis is usually performed 2-3 times per week, each time lasts from 3-4 hours depending on the remaining kidney function and the amount of blood and waste filtered through the treatment times. Treatment
2.2 Peritoneal Dialysis Dialysis principle: peritoneal dialysis will work through blood diffusion, a sterile dialysis solution rich in minerals and glucose is introduced through a tube into the membrane-lined peritoneal cavity semi-permeable, peritoneal membrane. Based on the natural filtering capacity of the peritoneum, the filtrate will be left in the peritoneal cavity for a while to be able to absorb waste, then drained out through the tube. This process can be repeated several times a day and done overnight with an automated system.

Advantages: peritoneal dialysis makes the patient more comfortable because it can be done at home instead of going to medical facilities several times a week. Before starting peritoneal dialysis, the patient needs to undergo a minor surgical procedure to insert a catheter into the abdomen. Peritoneal dialysis is the right solution for patients who are not healthy enough for regular hemodialysis (the elderly, infants, children) or those who are mobile.
Cons: Actual peritoneal dialysis is less effective than hemodialysis when the patient has run out of urine, risk of infection of the peritoneum, tube foot and tunnel if performed incorrectly.
2.3 Continuous renal replacement therapy Dialysis principle: continuous renal replacement methods are designed to provide slow, continuous, and possibly 24-hour dialysis, usually in the care unit. intensive care, for patients with severe and unstable blood pressure, sepsis.

Dialysis is a common adjuvant treatment for patients with renal failure but certainly not as effective as normal kidneys. Dialysis patients need to pay attention to their own diet as well as the intake of supportive drugs. In addition, dialysis patients can still live and work normally, as long as they follow the routine dialysis process.

Dialysis can affect pregnant women because the body produces large amounts of waste during pregnancy. Therefore, pregnant women may need dialysis more times during pregnancy, if a kidney transplant is successful, fertility returns to normal
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