Treating Kidney Failure with HemodialysisTreating Kidney Failure With Hemodialysis

Part of a series designed for people with chronic kidney disease and their families

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

  1. Introduction
  2. What Hemodialysis Does and Doesn't Do
  3. How Hemodialysis Works
    1. The Artificial Kidney
    2. The Dialysis Process
    3. The Hemodialysis Machine and Its Parts
    4. The Dialysate or Bath
  4. How Your Blood Gets to the Hemodialysis Machine
    1. Temporary Access
    2. Permanent Access
    3. Complications
  5. What to Expect During Hemodialysis
    1. Pre-dialysis Patient Assessment
    2. Cleaning Your Access Site
    3. Inserting the Needles
    4. Connecting You to the Dialyzer
    5. Monitoring During Dialysis
    6. Removing the Needles
    7. Post-Dialysis Assessment
  6. Getting Enough Dialysis: Know Your Number
  7. Understanding Your Lab Values
  8. Potential Problems During and After Hemodialysis
    1. Patient Problems That May Occur During Hemodialysis
          Table 1. Potential Problems During Hemodialysis
          Table 2. Itching: A Common Problem for Dialysis Patients
    2. Mechanical Problems That May Occur
  9. Center-Based Hemodialysis
    1. Your Dialysis Care Team
    2. Scheduling Your Treatments
    3. Typical Center Routine
    4. Reuse of Hemodialyzers
    5. Advantages and Disadvantages of Center-Based Hemodialysis
  10. Home-Based Hemodialysis
    1. Training
    2. Getting Your Supplies
    3. Monthly Medical Checkups
    4. Advantages and Disadvantages of Home-Based Hemodialysis
  11. Other Important Parts of Your Care
    1. Treating Anemia
    2. Your Special Diet
    3. Treating Bone Disease
    4. Preventing Heart Problems
    5. Following an Exercise Program
  12. Paying for Your Treatment
  13. Travel With Hemodialysis
  14. Conclusion

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APPENDIX A. Dialysis Patients' Bill of Rights and Responsibilities
APPENDIX B. Other Resources
APPENDIX C. Words You Need to Know

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