health sectionhealth sectionHealthy kidneys remove excess fluid and wastes from the body. When kidneys fail, dialysis is needed to do the work of the kidneys. Hemodialysis is performed at a health care facility and involves having the patient's blood flow through a filter that removes wastes and extra fluid. Peritoneal dialysis can be done at home. This procedure uses the lining of the abdominal cavity, the peritoneal membrane, as a filter to remove wastes and excess fluids. These substances move from the blood into a dialysis solution placed in the abdominal cavity and then the solution is drained with a catheter. Many…
Side effects or problems stemming from kidney dialysis can vary depending on which type of dialysis the patient is receiving. The two types of kidney dialysis are hemodialysis, the most common dialysis involving circulating the blood outside the body through a machine; and peritoneal, using the lining of the stomach as the blood filter.
There are many different side effects of kidney dialysis, including the potential for infection, hernias, low blood pressure and itchy skin. Learn side effects for hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis with tips from a licensed dietitian in this free video on renal diets and nutrition.
