Dialysis and Artificial Kidney

The kidneys may stop working efficiently due to injury, infection, or a decrease in blood supply. When this happens, toxic substances build up in the body, which can be life-threatening. If the kidneys fail, a process called dialysis is used to remove nitrogenous wastes from the blood with the help of a man-made machine. In dialysis:

• About 500 ml of blood is taken out of the body at a time and passed through the machine.
• The machine filters and removes the harmful waste substances. The purified blood is then returned to the patient’s body.

Dialysis of blood

Dialysis is a medical process in which nitrogenous wastes and toxic substances are removed from the blood using an artificial machine when the kidneys fail to function properly.

An artificial kidney is a dialysis machine that removes urea and excess salts from the blood when both kidneys fail, and returns the purified blood back into the body.

1. Hemodialysis

In haemodialysis, blood is passed through a filter known as a dialyser, which is located outside the body. The dialyzer is often referred to as an "artificial kidney." The blood is removed from the body, cleaned in the machine, and returned to the body. This process is usually done in a hospital or dialysis centre and takes about 3-4 hours, typically a few times a week.

2. Peritoneal Dialysis

In peritoneal dialysis, the inside lining of your abdomen (called the peritoneum) acts as a natural filter. A special fluid is placed in the abdomen through a tube. This fluid helps draw out waste from the blood. After a few hours, the fluid is drained and replaced with fresh fluid. This type can be done at home, often while sleeping.