Dialysis Specialist

What is dialysis?

Dialysis is a treatment for end-stage kidney (renal) failure. When your kidneys are healthy, they remove waste, salt, and extra water from your body. When they’re failing, you need dialysis to do the job.

Without dialysis, waste can build up in your body and lead to high blood pressure, unsafe levels of potassium and sodium in your blood, and other serious health complications.

There are three types of dialysis the team at Merit Health Care, PC offers — home dialysis, hemodialysis, and peritoneal dialysis.

What are the different types of dialysis?

Hemodialysis involves using an artificial kidney to remove waste and excess fluids from your blood. This treatment requires an initial minor surgery to create an access point in your blood vessels that fits a flexible tube (catheter).

Dr. Habach makes a hemodialysis access point by joining an artery to a vein, creating a larger fistula under your skin. The catheter connects to a dialysis machine that helps carry waste out of your body.

Peritoneal dialysis is a procedure to clean your blood outside of your body. A minor surgery is initially necessary to fit a catheter into an access in your peritoneal cavity in your abdomen. The catheter moves your blood through the attached dialysis machine to filter excess waste and fluids.

Peritoneal dialysis is the most common type of home dialysis treatment, but home hemodialysis is also available. With home dialysis, you can still receive treatment without traveling to the office.

How often do I need dialysis?

The frequency of your dialysis treatments depends on the severity of your kidney disease.

Typically, hemodialysis treatments are necessary three times a week and last about four hours. You may need to do peritoneal dialysis and home dialysis 3-5 days a week.

Dialysis won’t cure kidney disease, but it can do the work of your kidneys to keep you healthy. If your kidneys fail, you’ll need dialysis for the rest of your life unless you get a kidney transplant.

The team at Merit Health Care, PC, offers comprehensive dialysis care in-office. If you choose dialysis at home, they can teach you how to care for your access point and use the dialysis equipment safely.

To schedule a dialysis consultation, call the Merit Health Care, PC, office nearest to you today or book an appointment online.