Hemodialysis vs peritoneal dialysis

Medical Illustration by Jason Hoffman During hemodialysis, your blood travels outside your body and through a machine called a dialyzer. The machine has two sets of tubing, one that your blood travels through and another circulating a solution called dialysate. This solution contains Trusted Source PubMed Central Highly respected database from the National Institutes of Health • purified water • sodium • potassium • magnesium • dextrose • calcium • bicarbonate • chloride The dialysate circuit and the blood circuit are separated by a membrane that allows water and some molecules to pass through it. This moves waste products and excess water from the blood into the dialysate. From there, they can be discarded, and the clean blood can be returned to your bloodstream. A continuous fresh stream of dialysate travels through the machine, which prevents wastes from accumulating in the dialysate. Cons of hemodialysis There are a few drawbacks to hemodialysis. The procedure requires an access point to your bloodstream, which can involve: • a catheter • a fistula, which is a surgically created connection between an artery and a vein • a graft, which is a connection made of synthetic material Having a catheter placed can increase your risk of infection. Fistulas and grafts may clot or malfunction. Hemodialysis generally requires you to visit a dialysis center for treatments three times a week. Because treatments occur only on those 3 days, you may be subject to stricter fluid and diet...

Disadvantages • Studies show PD patients live longer. • More mobility and flexibility • Easier to travel • Continuous dialysis can improve well-being • No machine required • May have fewer fluid and diet restrictions • No needles required • May live longer & healthier • Can be a good bridge to a kidney transplant • Can preserve vessels for future hemodialysis access. • Although PD is every day, it takes less time overall than going to a center (when you consider traveling to and from the center, waiting, recovery time). • Done every day; no days off • Catheter may affect body image • Swimming/bathing may be limited • Potential for weight gain due to glucose (sugar) in dialysis fluid • Blood glucose can be more difficult to control in diabetes. • Storage space is required at home for supplies and fluid. • Potential for infection in the catheter. Disadvantages • Studies show that having dialysis at home 5-7 times a week has dramatically better outcomes in every way, including longer life and better survival • You and your dialysis partner learn to do treatments without the in-center staff • Dialysis is done in the comfort of your own home. • No need to travel to a dialysis center • More flexibility to choose a convenient time of day to do dialysis • Greater sense of control from being independent and doing treatment yourself. • A dialysis partner must be present while you are on dialysis • Both you and your dialysis partner must take time off work or regular routine to atten...

Did you know that chronic kidney disease affects an estimated 37 million people in the United States ? Kidney disease poses various health concerns and complications and, if left untreated, it can even be fatal. The most effective way to treat kidney failure is through dialysis. There are two different types of dialysis: hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis . In this guide, we’ll explain everything you should know about hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. Click a section to jump directly to it! • • • • ​ Which type of dialysis type is right for me? • • To better understand the differences between hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis, it's important to thoroughly understand what the kidneys do and why they are significant . Your kidneys are crucial to filtering waste and harmful substances out of the bloodstream. They absorb essential vitamins and nutrients, expelling everything else out of the body in the form of urine. The kidneys also regulate your body's hydration levels and assist in hormone production. If your kidneys fail, they allow harmful elements into the bloodstream, leading to complications with the central nervous system, diabetes, heart problems, and more. You may also experience some common symptoms of kidney failure, such as nausea, vomiting, decreased urine output, fatigue, swelling from fluid retention, and more. If your kidneys no longer remove enough waste and fluid from your blood to keep you healthy, your doctor may recommend dialysis treatments. Di...

According to the What is Hemodialysis? During hemodialysis, the patient’s blood flows from a dialysis access point (usually in the arm) into the dialyzer. The machine filters the blood through a membrane. The waste products in the blood pass through the membrane and are washed away using a fluid called dialysate. The waste products are discarded and the cleansed blood is then returned to the body. Patients getting hemodialysis usually need treatments three times a week. Each treatment takes around four hours. While this may be inconvenient, many patients with low kidney function benefit from hemodialysis. What is Peritoneal Dialysis? During peritoneal dialysis, the dialysate flows through a catheter into part of the abdomen. The peritoneum, which is the lining of your abdomen, acts as a natural filter and removes the waste products from your blood. After a set “dwelling” time, the fluid containing the filtered waste products flows out through the catheter so it can be safely discarded. This type of dialysis is a good option for patients that meet certain health requirements and want fewer restrictions than they’d have with hemodialysis. However, this type of dialysis is not ideal for all patients. There are two types of peritoneal dialysis: continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) and automated peritoneal dialysis Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis (CAPD) With continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD), the abdomen is filled with dialysate. The patient...