As a treatment for patients with ESRD, the purpose of dialysis is to perform some functions of the kidneys. During the most common form of dialysis—hemodialysis—an artificial filter called a dialyzer is used to perform these functions:
- Remove waste, salt, and extra water
- Control blood pressure
- Regulate the balance of fluid in the body
A little at a time, a dialyzer extracts blood from a patient’s body. The blood is then cleaned with a fluid called dialysate, which filters out urea, creatine, potassium and any extra fluids in the blood. These treatments typically require 3 or 4 hours and are completed at a dialysis center.
Some patients do complete hemodialysis at home, but most home-care patients are treated with an alternative form of dialysis called peritoneal dialysis.