Hemodialysis is a way to clean the blood by removing wastes and excess water. During Hemodialysis using your vascular access the blood is circulated through an artificial kidney machine .The artificial kidney cleans blood in almost the same way that the healthy kidneys do. The wastes and excess water pass through the membrane into the dialysis fluid and then are discarded. The cleaned blood is returned to your blood stream. You will be able to eat during the session .The session may further be fortified by administration of multivitamin ,iron , Vitamin D, Erythropoietin(blood building hormone) injections based on your needs at a dose suitable for you.

1. What is the frequency of hemodialysis ?

The treatment is performed usually three times a week on an out-patient basis with each session lasting for four hours .This is because only a small amount of blood is out of the body at one time. Therefore your blood must circulate through the machine many times before it is cleaned fully.

2. Is hemodialysis painful?

Insertion of needles causes pain but only for a brief time.

Points to remember

• Diet
• Planning work/school schedules as per hemodialysis
• Travel-Planning in advance and informing the dialysis unit so as to make arrangements for outstation hemodialysis.