Hemodialysis

The body’s wastes (toxins) and fluids, which accumulate in a patient with kidney failure, can be removed through a process called hemodialysis. With hemodialysis, the patient’s blood is pumped into a filter (dialyzer). Through the dialyzer, the excess toxins and fluid are removed, and the blood is returned to the body. 

The blood enters the dialyzer either from a tube (catheter) which was inserted into the neck vein of a patient, or through a needle which was inserted into a vein in the arm of a patient who had a surgical procedure connecting an artery to a vein (AV fistula). The body’s toxins and excess fluids are removed by passing through the dialyzer membrane, and the “clean” blood is returned through another catheter or another needle back into the patient. This process takes approximately 3-4 hours and is repeated several days each week.