Renal replacement therapies
Haemodialysis
Haemodialysis requires the patient's blood to be pumped out of
the body by a machine into
an artificial kidney, where the blood is purified of excess
waste and fluid before being returned to the patient. The
blood does not come into contact with any fluids during
dialysis.
Dialysis is done three times per week for 3–4 hours, usually in
a hospital setting as either an inpatient or outpatient.
Haemodialysis is carried out on patients with acute or chronic
renal failure.
Haemofiltration
This is continuous arterial-venous filtration for 24 hours,
usually for acute patients in CCU. Haemofiltration removes
excess fluid and waste products via the concentration
gradient.
Plasmapheresis
In this procedure, blood is separated into cells and plasma
using a special filter called
a curesis. The blood is circulated through the filter with
the aid of a machine.
This technique separates and removes the antibodies and other
potentially harmful
substances from the bloodstream and replaces them with
normal plasma protein. It is
most effective in patients with autoimmune disease, where the
body produces antibodies
which attack the body itself.
Peritoneal dialysis
In this procedure, removal of waste products takes place in the
peritoneal cavity through the peritoneum, which is a semi-permeable
membrane. A tube is passed into the cavity and permanently left
there.
There are two forms of peritoneal dialysis:
- Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis (CAPD),
which involves a special fluid being
drained in and out of the peritoneum four times a
day.
- Automated Peritoneal Dialysis (APD), which involves
connecting the patient's catheter
to a special machine that performs the exchanges in
cycles throughout the night. The Baxter
Home Choice machine is used for APD.
Additional notes for peritoneal dialysis
Peritoneal dialysis patients may need admittance to
hospital for various procedures. We offer a maintenance
peritoneal dialysis service for such patients either on CAPD
or APD. The Baxter peritoneal dialysis system is in use in
the Clinic. Patients not on this system will be required to
have a line change on admission in order to make all connections
compatible.
Children are unable to be treated in the unit, in accordance
with Clinic policy. This service is provided in
conjunction with the inpatient nurses in order to ensure that it is
effective and efficient.
Haemodialysis is available in the event
that there are problems with the peritoneal dialysis. The
requested information must be returned to The
London Clinic Dialysis Unit or the admitting consultant
as soon as possible; without this we are unable to confirm
treatment.
Patients who are Hepatitis B positive are unable to be
treated.
The London Clinic will not be able to accept emergency
admissions of peritoneal dialysis patients not already under our
care, as the service offered is only for maintenance of established
patients.
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engaged in rendering medical advice or professional services. The
information provided through these pagess should not be used for
diagnosing or treating a health problem or a disease. It is not a
substitute for professional care. If you have or suspect you may
have a health problem, you should consult your health care
provider.