Hemodialysis is a procedure in which a machine filters harmful waste and excess salt and fluid from your blood. Dialysis is indicated in patient with
renal failure due various causes,
pulmonary edema not responding to diuretics, poisoning, severe bleeding diathesis, ascitis without hepatic disease, infectious complications,
severe hypertension and
severe hyperkalemia. A needle is inserted into arm through a special access point. Blood is then directed through the needle to a machine called a dialyzer, which filters your blood a few ounces at a time. The filtered blood returns to body through another needle. With special training and someone to help, it's possible to do hemodialysis at home. Complications of long term dialysis includes lack of red blood cells anemia, bone diseases, chest, low blood pressure,
muscle Cramps, nausea and vomiting, fever and chills, inflammation of the membrane surrounding the needle, high potassium levels, which can affect your heart rhythm, nerve damage, infection and heart disease.