A clinic specializing in the care of patients with chronic dialysis.

     Kidneys do many good things to maintain the environment for the body cells to perform by filtering the body's blood to remove extra fluids, salt, acid and waste products. They control blood pressure, make hormones as erythropoietin (helps in making RBC/Hb) and vitamin D (maintains bone health).

     For patients whose kidneys have failed permanently or acutely and who need support from outside to maintain a quality of life are offered dialysis. Dialysis is a treatment done to do the work of the kidney (cleaning blood) from outside. Dialysis does not cure the kidney disease.

     There are different types of dialysis. Hemodialysis (done on a machine in a dialysis unit) and peritoneal dialysis (done manually/machine at home) are the available options. Which type of dialysis is best for you is decided during your counseling sessions.

     Hemodialysis, uses a special filter called dialyser/ artificial kidney, through which blood is passed to be cleaned and then is returned back to the patient. The blood is drawn through an access. Access is created by your doctor prior to the onset of dialysis in chronic renal failure patients following a nephrologist. In acute renal failure patients and in chronic renal failure patients who are not prepared for dialysis, a temporary access is created.

     Temporary access is called Venous catheter. It is a hollow tube with two openings and is placed in the groin or neck or in the shoulder area. It is kept till the permanent access is ready to use. Infection is the problem to be watched for.

     Permanent access is of two types. To make AVF (arteriovenous fistula) doctor links an artery directly to the vein, usually in the arm. This helps more blood flow into the vein and over time the vein becomes thick and ready to use for dialysis. AVG (arteriovenous graft) is considered when the veins are very small and AVF is not possible. A soft artificial hollow tube is used to link the artery to the vein. Patients are taught to take care of their access. Hemodialysis treatment is advised to do three to two times in a week and each treatment will be for four hrs. Dialysis treatment itself is painless except for some discomfort when needles are being placed.

     In Peritoneal dialysis blood is filtered inside the body but not through the kidneys. A catheter is placed in the stomach, through which a special solution is infused into the stomach cavity. Blood waste products filter through the peritoneum and the solution is drained out few hours later. There are two types of peritoneal dialysis. CAPD (continous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis) is done manually. CCPD (continous cycling peritoneal dialysis) is done by a machine called cycler. The benefit of this type of dialysis is that it can be done while you are sleeping and thus frees up your day. What type of dialysis is good for you can be decide during counseling.