Your kidneys are two bean-shaped organs that lie just below your rib cage, on each side of your spine. The kidneys do many good things for the body. Their main job is to filter the body's blood supply to remove extra water, salt and the waste products left over after the body uses the energy it needs to live. The extra fluid and waste leave the body when you urinate. Show Since the body is made up mostly of water, the kidneys make sure there is the right balance of fluid for the body to stay healthy. The kidneys also control blood pressure, maintain the levels of certain chemicals in the blood and make hormones necessary for the body to function correctly. When the kidneys do not work, the blood must be filtered another way. This is done using a treatment called dialysis. Dialysis does what the kidneys are no longer able to do, through a series of filters and semi-permeable membranes. Hemodialysis, specifically, is the process of filtering blood. Hemodialysis requires vascular access through a blood vessel (vein or artery). These access sites are obtained via non-invasive methods (no incisions required / small puncture / low to moderate sedation) stated below. Types of Hemodialysis Access
How to prepare for the procedureBefore the procedure, your doctor and treatment team will explain to you what to expect before, during and after the procedure, and potential risks of the procedure. Other recommendations include: Talk to your doctor about
Other suggestions
What to expect before the procedureTo determine whether you need dialysis, your doctor might perform a variety of tests, including: Diagnostic tests and procedures
What to expect during the procedureMedical Animation Copyright © 2019 Nucleus Medical Media, All rights reserved. Dialysis access creation usually takes 1 hour. Creation of these access sites can take place in a hospital or outpatient setting (e.g. doctor’s office). Check with your doctor about the details of your procedure. In general: During an AV fistula procedure
During an AV graft procedure
What to expect after the procedureIndividuals who had an AV fistula procedure will most likely go home the same day. Those who had an AV graft however, will stay in the hospital for at least one night. Other recommendations include: General guidelines
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