Normal kidneys do a number of jobs besides removing wastes from the blood. In kidney failure there is a decrease in the glomerular filtration rate and the kidneys are unable to maintain homeostasis of the blood. In addition, the kidneys produce hormones which control other functions in the body. Although dialysis treatment can remove wastes and excess water, medications are needed to control the levels of these minerals and to replace the hormones.
Dialysis is a treatment: it does not cure kidney disease or make kidneys well again, and it does not fully replace your kidney function. Unless you receive a kidney transplant, you must continue to have dialysis for the rest of your life. A different dialysis technique, continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD), makes use of the fact that the peritoneum (the lining of the abdominal cavity) is a differentially permeable membrane. A plastic bag containing dialysis fluid is attached to the patient's abdominal cavity. After about 30 minutes, the fluid is withdrawn into the bag and discarded. This process is repeated about three times a day. This type of dialysis is much more convenient but poses the threat of peritonitis, should bacteria enter the body cavity with the dialysis fluid.
A different dialysis technique, continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD), makes use of the fact that the peritoneum (the lining of the abdominal cavity) is a differentially permeable membrane. A plastic bag containing dialysis fluid is attached to the patient's abdominal cavity. After about 30 minutes, the fluid is withdrawn into the bag and discarded. This process is repeated about three times a day. This type of dialysis is much more convenient but poses the threat of peritonitis, should bacteria enter the body cavity with the dialysis fluid.
Long term use of dialysis is not as desirable for the patient as would be a funtioning kidney. With a successful kidney transplant, a patient can live a more normal live with far less long term expense. At present more than two thirds of kidney transplants are successful for several years, although physicians must routinely treat the problems of graft rejection. There are several recipients of kidney transplants who have survived for more than 20 years.
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