NIDDK
Information about hemodialysis from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.
Your safety is our priority. Get COVID-19 vaccine news, find details on our virtual screenings and see steps we've taken to keep you safe at your in-office visits:
Find full details at our COVID-19 Resource Center.
Obtenga más información acerca del COVID-19, incluyendo las preguntas más frecuentes y una examen virtual gratis. Ver información del COVID-19 y información sobre la vacuna.
Doing the work of your kidneys, when they no longer function
If you’ve been told you are in kidney failure, it means your kidney function is less than 10 to 15 percent of normal.
Hemodialysis is a lifesaving treatment in which your blood is filtered through a machine to remove waste products, fluid and other material from your blood, when your kidneys are no longer able to do so.
If you need hemodialysis, you can expect to receive treatment on a regular schedule, usually about three times a week. The procedure does require a time commitment as each session lasts three – five hours. It is available as an outpatient service or can be done in your own home. You and your doctor will decide what is best for you.
Before starting hemodialysis, you will need a dialysis catheter inserted. This catheter will provide entry and exit access points for your blood filtering to take place. The catheter placement is considered a minor surgery and will need to be done before your dialysis can begin.
Once your catheter is in place and healed, you are ready for dialysis. During your hemodialysis session, blood flows out of your body through tubing and into a filter called a dialyzer (artificial kidney). This removes waste products, fluid, and corrects the mineral levels in your blood.
The blood then re-enters your body through another set of tubes. A hemodialysis machine removes the waste products from the dialyzer filter and monitors your blood flow.
If your kidneys were injured because of a catastrophic illness, you may only need hemodialysis until your kidneys heal. If you are waiting for a kidney transplant, they you may need dialysis until your new kidney becomes available.
However, if your kidney failure is permanent and a kidney transplant is not appropriate for your condition or you have opted to not undergo a transplant, then your hemodialysis will continue for the rest of your life as an ongoing-therapy to replace your kidney function, unless you choose to discontinue the hemodialysis or switch to another form of dialysis.
You may have hemodialysis as an inpatient, outpatient or at home.
If you need hemodialysis, you can expect to receive treatment on a regular schedule, usually about three times a week. The procedure does require a time commitment as each session lasts three – five hours. It is available as an outpatient service or can be done in your own home. You and your doctor will decide what is best for you.
Before starting hemodialysis, you will need a dialysis catheter inserted. This catheter will provide entry and exit access points for your blood filtering to take place. The catheter placement is considered a minor surgery and will need to be done before your dialysis can begin.
Once your catheter is in place and healed, you are ready for dialysis. During your hemodialysis session, blood flows out of your body through tubing and into a filter called a dialyzer (artificial kidney). This removes waste products, fluid, and corrects the mineral levels in your blood.
The blood then re-enters your body through another set of tubes. A hemodialysis machine removes the waste products from the dialyzer filter and monitors your blood flow.
If your kidneys were injured because of a catastrophic illness, you may only need hemodialysis until your kidneys heal. If you are waiting for a kidney transplant, they you may need dialysis until your new kidney becomes available.
However, if your kidney failure is permanent and a kidney transplant is not appropriate for your condition or you have opted to not undergo a transplant, then your hemodialysis will continue for the rest of your life as an ongoing-therapy to replace your kidney function, unless you choose to discontinue the hemodialysis or switch to another form of dialysis.
You may have hemodialysis as an inpatient, outpatient or at home.
Hemodialysis can seem like a big step and you probably have a lot of questions. Some of the questions you might want to ask include:
Hemodialysis can seem like a big step and you probably have a lot of questions. Some of the questions you might want to ask include:
Information about hemodialysis from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.
Information about hemodialysis provided in a question and answer format.
Information about hemodialysis from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.
Information about hemodialysis provided in a question and answer format.