dializ

Dializ, also known as dialysis, is a medical treatment that performs essential kidney functions for people whose kidneys can no longer adequately filter waste, regulate fluids, or balance electrolytes. It removes waste products and excess fluids from the blood and helps maintain chemical balance when native kidney function is reduced or absent.

There are two main types. Hemodializ involves circulating the patient’s blood through an artificial kidney, or dialyzer, where wastes and excess fluids pass into a dialysate fluid. The treated blood is returned to the body. Hemodialysis is usually performed in a hospital or dialysis center three times per week, for several hours per session; many patients also receive home hemodialysis under supervision. Peritoneal dializis uses the lining of the abdomen (the peritoneum) as a filter. Dialysate is infused into the abdominal cavity through a catheter, wastes diffuse into the solution, and the fluid is drained. Peritoneal dialysis can be done continuously at home, with manual exchanges (CAPD) or with an automated cycler (APD).

Effective dialysis requires reliable access: arteriovenous fistula or graft for hemodialysis, usually preferred for long-term use; central venous catheters may be used when rapid access is needed or on a temporary basis. For peritoneal dialysis, a peritoneal dialysis catheter is implanted.

Dialysis is indicated for end-stage kidney disease and for certain cases of acute kidney injury requiring kidney replacement therapy. It prolongs life and relieves symptoms, but it does not cure the underlying kidney disease; kidney transplantation remains an option for eligible patients. Possible complications include low blood pressure during treatment, muscle cramps, nausea, and headaches, as well as infections or clotting at access sites. Dialysis has origins in mid-20th century innovations and remains a widely used, evolving treatment worldwide.