To heal the blood of nitrogen compounds and electrolytes in cases where the kidneys can not cope with their work, hemodialysis is used.
What is this procedure? They carry it out with the help of an "artificial kidney" - a special apparatus consisting of three components. Let's take a closer look at the essence of this process.
Hemodialysis - what is it?
This procedure is also called extracorporeal detoxification. This name emphasizes the essence of the process - natural filtration, which should be carried out by the kidneys, is carried out outside the body. Metabolism through a semipermeable membrane is called hemodialysis.
What is it from a biochemical point of view? The membrane on one side is washed with blood containing electrolytes and nitrogenous slag. And on the other hand, with a dialysis solution. These two fluids create
a concentration gradient along which metabolic products are released from the blood. Ultrafiltration, which is hemodialysis (what is it and what is the procedure for its implementation, we will tell a little below), is carried out using a special apparatus.
"Artificial kidney"
This unit consists of three components. The dialyzer is the most important of them, it is equipped with a semi-impermeable membrane, which is made from synthetic materials or cellulose. This is a functional element that provides filtering of the body’s vital products and toxins. The unit also contains a device that supplies blood through the tubes, and a device for preparing a dialysis solution. Blood also contains proteins, bacteria, and large elements that are retained by the membrane.
Then they return to the body through a vein. Blood is supplied to the dialyzer through tubes using a roller pump. The system also measures blood flow rate and pressure. The hemodialysis doctor monitors these indicators. It also determines the composition of the dialysis solution - depending on the level of electrolytes in
the blood plasma, it needs to be adjusted. Most often, the concentration of potassium, sometimes sodium, fluctuates.
Who needs an "artificial kidney"?
Outpatient hemodialysis is prescribed for certain diseases, such as chronic renal failure, serious alcohol poisoning, an overdose of drugs and some poisons. Without hemodialysis, the patient may die. After this procedure, people can continue a normal life. Contraindications to its implementation are some bleeding, pulmonary tuberculosis (in active form), malignant tumors, psychosis, old age in the presence of diabetes mellitus, atherosclerosis, chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, heart failure and some other diseases. Hemodialysis is recommended to be performed about three times a week, its duration is about 4 hours. You can do this procedure in accordance with various programs. Indeed, depending on the type of membrane used, hemodialysis can be performed every day or reduce the number of procedures to two per week.