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Renal Resource Centre 37 Darling Point Poad, Darling Point, NSW 2027 AUSTRALIA Telephone: 61 2 9362 3995 9362 3121 Facsimile: 61 2 9362 4354 Freecall: 1800 257 189 Click here for our location map |
An Introduction to Haemodialysis
Normal Kidney Function
Kidney Failure
Acute Renal Failure
Chronic Renal Failure
End Stage Renal Failure
Symptoms You May Be Experiencing at the Moment
Dialysis
Haemodialysis and Peritoneal Dialysis
Peritoneal Dialysis
Haemodialysis
Haemodialysis Treatment Location
Hospital and Satellite Dialysis
Home Haemodialysis
Haemodialysis Treatment Schedules
Renal Unit Schedules
Typical Home Dialysis Schedules
Transport to Hospital or Satellite Dialysis
Dialysis Access
Cannulation
How Does Dialysis Work?
What Can I Do During Dialysis?
Haemodialysis Costs
Public and Private Hospitals
Home Haemodialysis
Home Haemodialysis Education
Who is Suitable for Home Haemodialysis?
Nutritional Management
Medications
Exercise
Emotional Responses and Relationships
Pregnancy and Contraception
Holidays
A Final Note
The purpose of this booklet is to provide prospective dialysis patients with some general information about kidney function and specific information about haemodialysis. A companion booklet on peritoneal dialysis is also available and it is recommended that you read both, especially if your renal physician has indicated that both treatments are medically suitable for you. Understanding why, when, where and how each form of dialysis is performed, will allow you to better consider which form of treatment will best suit you. Like many thousands of Australians before you, facing the prospect of dialysis treatment is daunting. No doubt you have many questions and many fears about what it will entail and how it will change your life. Most of all, you probably wonder if it will keep you well enough to enjoy a long, full and active life. Rest assured that both peritoneal and haemodialysis are very effective forms of dialysis and that there are currently over 7,000 Australians receiving dialysis treatment. Furthermore, there are almost 6,000 Australians living with kidney transplants.
After accepting the inevitable need for dialysis treatment, the next step is to decide which form of treatment will best suit you. There are two basic forms of dialysis - haemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. Deciding which treatment is appropriate will depend on many factors. There may be medical reasons why your renal physician will recommend one over the other. In many cases, the choice will be entirely yours and will be influenced by several non-medical factors. In others, the choice of treatment might be determined by your place of residence and the practicalities of attending for treatment. You may wish to consider your personal and family circumstances and how each form of dialysis will impact on those. It is always useful to consider how dialysis can be incorporated into your work, study, social life, leisure activities, business and holiday travel requirements.
Australia boasts some of the best results in the world in caring for people with kidney failure and is a world leader in home haemodialysis. These successful outcomes are a result of not just access to the best medical care and leading edge technology but are also influenced by the partnership developed between you and your renal team. Hopefully, by reading this booklet and also attending educational sessions about your treatment options, you will be well placed to participate in that partnership and so successfully manage your treatment, whatever form it may take.
In this booklet, we have attempted to anticipate your anxieties, fears, doubts and questions about haemodialysis. However, a booklet cannot replace speaking with your physician and the staff of your renal unit. Knowing your individual circumstances, they are best positioned to guide you through the process of choosing the right treatment option. With the prospect of future treatment and lifestyle changes ahead, try to take things slowly and don’t panic. What now seems overwhelming will soon be part of your routine. Read the information in this booklet carefully. We hope that it will help you to understand haemodialysis and if and how it can benefit you. We wish you every success and good health!
Denise O’Shaughnessy
Senior Social Worker
Renal Resource Centre
October 2004
The kidneys are two vital organs, located in the back of the abdominal cavity on either side of the spine, slightly above the small of the back. Each kidney is bean shaped, weighs approximately 150 grams and measures 11cm x 6cm (the size of a clenched fist). Each kidney is composed of about a million minute filters, which remove waste products and excess fluid from the blood.
The major function of the kidneys is to control the fluid and chemical balance of the body. In addition, the kidneys produce and regulate 3 main hormones:
When the kidneys cease to function normally, resulting in a build up of waste products (toxins) and fluid in the body, the kidneys are said to be “failing”. Kidney or renal failure may be acute or chronic.
Acute kidney failure may occur following severe blood loss, serious kidney infection and various types of kidney disease. The kidneys suddenly cease to function but usually recover with treatment.
Chronic renal failure means that kidney tissue has been destroyed gradually over a long period of time - usually months or years. Many people are unaware of the problem until more than 70% of kidney function has been lost. The aim of early detection of kidney disease and treatment (diet and medication) is to prevent or slow down progression of the disease. However, in some cases, the progression to end stage renal failure, when dialysis or transplantation is necessary, is not preventable.
The most common causes of end stage renal failure in Australian today are glomerulonephritis, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, polycystic kidney disease, analgesics and urinary reflux.
End stage renal failure:
End stage renal failure occurs when the kidneys can no longer function adequately and survival depends on either dialysis or transplantation. You are probably at, or approaching this stage of kidney disease and your present treatment is aimed at easing the load on your damaged kidneys and minimising the accumulation of waste products in your body.
Symptoms You May Be Experiencing at the Moment:
You will require dialysis when these symptoms are no longer effectively controlled by your present treatment. Following the commencement of dialysis, you will notice a marked improvement in your health, as many of these symptoms are minimised or completely resolved.
Dialysis is the process of cleansing or filtering the blood and removing excess fluids.
The filter used to cleanse the blood in dialysis treatment is a semi-permeable membrane, i.e. a thin material with holes large enough to let small particles (up to a particular size) through but small enough to retain large particles.
The body’s excess water and waste products filter from the blood across the membrane and are washed away by the dialysis solution. Large particles, such as blood cells and proteins, stay behind in the blood where they continue to do their work.
There are two methods of dialysis treatment:
Both haemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis work equally well when treatment is undertaken as prescribed and when people take good care of themselves. If you are medically a candidate for either type of dialysis treatment, it is best to select a treatment based on your lifestyle, daily schedule, activities and personal preference. Many factors such as age, where you live, medical condition and support system will influence the decision. If you find that the treatment chosen as your first option does not really suit you, it may be possible to change to another form of dialysis. You are not necessarily permanently committed to one form of dialysis. It is also sometimes medically necessary to change over from one form of dialysis to another. You may wish to discuss the likelihood of this with your renal physician.
In Australia, approximately 25% of patients use some form of peritoneal dialysis.
Peritoneal dialysis works inside the body using the PERITONEAL MEMBRANE as the semipermeable membrane through which the blood can be filtered. Peritoneal dialysis is performed daily in the home. A booklet about peritoneal dialysis, “An Introduction to Peritoneal Dialysis” is available from the Renal Resource Centre.
In Australia, approximately, 75% of all patients use haemodialysis. In haemodialysis, the blood is circulated and cleansed outside the body by using a haemodialysis machine. The blood circulates through an artificial kidney, where it is cleansed of wastes and excess fluid. Each treatment generally lasts about five to six hours and is performed three times per week.
If desired and recommended by your physician, overnight dialysis at home is also possible.
Haemodialysis can be performed in the home, in a satellite or self-care unit or in a hospital renal unit.
Hospital renal units are especially suitable for the frail elderly or for those people with other medical conditions. Dialysis in a satellite or self-care unit (a unit where people look after their own dialysis with nursing supervision) allows for greater independence and is suitable for those who want to manage their own dialysis but who, for various reasons, cannot manage dialysis at home.
The greatest haemodialysis flexibility is available at home. This also means greater involvement in your treatment and possibly greater involvement of your partner and family.
Dialysis can be scheduled to fit into your lifestyle rather than you trying to fit your life around fixed dialysis schedules at a hospital or self-care unit. Dialysing in the comfort of one’s own home has much to recommend it, most of all, minimising the time spent in hospital and the time spent travelling to and from hospital. For most people considering home haemodialysis, the greatest hurdle is overcoming their fear of needles and self-cannulation. With good training, confidence building and the discovery that this is a pain-free procedure, these fears can very successfully be overcome.
Most people dialyse with the help of a partner (usually a spouse or a parent). However, in recent years, an increasing number of people are choosing to dialyse solo at home, as an alternative to attending a self-care or satellite unit. These people either live alone or choose, for a variety of reasons, to dialyse without the help of their partner. In addition, many others are choosing nocturnal haemodialysis. This is performed overnight at home, where each treatment is of about eight hours duration. Nocturnal dialysis results in improved feelings of well being, fewer medications and dietary restrictions and reduced intrusion into daily life. Many home patients are now choosing this form of dialysis. At present, such treatment is not usually available in hospital.
Your renal physician, social worker and nursing staff will be available to discuss your dialysis preferences and work out the most suitable treatment for you.
For those who are working, every effort is made by renal unit staff to schedule your treatments to fit in with your hours of work. However, this is often difficult to achieve for full time employees, as most dialysis centres do not operate an overnight shift. Many operate on Saturdays. Most shifts start at either 7.00am or 2.00pm. It is obviously easier to accommodate the demands of full-time work when dialysis is carried out at home, either after arriving home or overnight.
Here are some examples of typical dialysis schedules at home. It is not necessary to dialyse at exactly the same times each session. It is important simply to spread your dialysis treatments evenly throughout the week. You may choose to dialyse second daily after discussion with your physician.
| Monday, Wednesday, Friday | 7.00am - 12.00pm |
| Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday | 6.00pm - 11.00pm |
| Monday, Thursday, Saturday | 2.00pm - 7.00pm |
| Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday | 10.00pm - 6.00am |
It is important to note that if dialysing at home, an extra hour or so should be factored in for setting up the machine before dialysis and cleaning up after dialysis.
It is important to note that a great deal of time can be consumed by travelling to and from the dialysis unit three times per week. For those living some distance from the hospital or satellite unit, many hours can be spent travelling per week, which can be exhausting and frustrating. For those unable to provide their own transport or use public transport, ambulance or community transport may be available. If problems with transport to and from dialysis are expected, discuss these with the renal unit social worker or a member of the nursing staff.
As haemodialysis requires access to the circulation, a minor procedure, requiring a day or overnight hospital stay is necessary to create an arterio-venous fistula. The surgery simply joins, near the wrist, the radial artery in the forearm to a vein in the forearm, so that the vein increases in size, is easy to access and also has an increased blood flow. After creation of the fistula, you will feel a buzzing sensation over it. This is simply due to the flow of blood from the artery into the vein and is a sign that the fistula is working well.
Using this fistula during haemodialysis allows blood to be taken from the body through the artificial kidney or dialyser and returned to the body. It usually takes about 6 weeks before the fistula has matured and can be used for haemodialysis.
Sometimes, the surgeon will recommend a vein graft or artificial graft for dialysis access. The type of access recommended will depend upon a number of factors and the most efficient and reliable will be created for you.
If a graft is recommended, sometimes a vein from the patient’s leg can be used as a graft. The vein is removed from the leg and used in the arm to provide a good access for haemodialysis.
Alternatively, artificial material can be used to make a connection between the artery and vein (either in the patient’s arm or thigh). The vascular surgeon will recommend the most suitable for you.
If dialysis is necessary before the fistula or graft is ready, then the surgeon can create a temporary access, in the form of a subclavian catheter. These are soft catheters which are placed into the veins on the side of the neck or the upper chest. They can be placed under local anaesthetic and can be used for days or weeks. Of course, most people would prefer to avoid this type of access, making the timely creation of a permanent access a priority.
Cannulations refers to the process of using two special needles or cannulas to access your circulation, thus allowing the process of dialysis to take place. Without access to your blood, dialysis is not possible. Most people are anxious about the insertion of the cannulas but this procedure can be performed without any major discomfort. In time, the fear of cannulation diminishes and many patients prefer to cannulate themselves, entirely without nursing assistance.
Cannulations refers to the process of using two special needles or cannulas to access your circulation, thus allowing the process of dialysis to take place. Without access to your blood, dialysis is not possible. Most people are anxious about the insertion of the cannulas but this procedure can be performed without any major discomfort. In time, the fear of cannulation diminishes and many patients prefer to cannulate themselves, entirely without nursing assistance.
In the case of patients who elect to dialyse at home, it is expected that they will initially be quite worried about learning how to do this. However, as the procedure is not at all painful, with time and practice, people eventually overcome that fear and anxiety and learn to insert the needles themselves. Most prefer to perform their own cannulation, even when visiting other renal units during holidays.
Haemodialysis works by separating two solutions of different concentrations (blood and dialysate solution) by a semi-permeable membrane (the dialyser). Dialysis is a Greek word meaning disintegration and that is in a sense what happens to the particles in the blood during dialysis, where substances that are no longer needed by the body are removed during dialysis.
Diffusion and ultrafiltration are the key components of dialysis treatment. By the process of diffusion, dissolved substances in a solution of high concentration (blood) pass to a solution of low concentration (dialysate) through a semi-permeable membrane. By 1960, treatment for acute, reversible renal failure by temporary dialysis was routine in many centres around the world.
During haemodialysis, blood flows continuously through the dialyser and fresh dialysate solution (salts to which water is added) passes continuously on the other side of the dialyser membranes, so that the waste substances pass through the membrane and are washed away down the drain.
Most dialysers remove excess water from the blood by a form of suction, called ultrafiltration. This involves the passage of water and its dissolved salts across the membrane by creating a pressure gradient across the membrane.
The medical and nursing staff caring for you will determine how much fluid needs to be removed during each treatment. This information can be programmed into the machine.
The machine is also equipped with a blood pump and monitoring system to ensure safety. Drugs such as Heparin and Clexane are used during dialysis to prevent the blood from clotting.
If you choose to dialyse during the day, then you will probably dialyse in a recliner chair. Unfortunately, it is not possible to walk around during dialysis but it is certainly possible to read, study, watch television, listen to music, chat or snooze. There is no discomfort during dialysis and the hardest part is being chairbound and finding interesting things to pass the time. An increasing number of people now choose to dialyse overnight, while they sleep.
Haemodialysis is available in Australian public hospitals and some private hospitals and clinics. Renal units in metropolitan areas tend to be located within university teaching hospitals. Satellite units are sometimes located away from the main hospital campus in a cottage or freestanding clinic or, in the case of rural units, at the local hospital.
Medicare covers haemodialysis treatment in public hospital or satellite units, while private health insurance covers private hospital or private satellite treatment. Always check the level of coverage provided by your private health insurer.
The costs associated with home haemodialysis are borne by government. Dialysis machines, fluids, disposables (blood lines, dialysers, cannulas) and water treatment equipment are supplied at no charge to patients. It is of course extremely important that all this equipment be maintained and safely stored to avoid any damage or waste. Depending on local state health department arrangements, you may be required to provide some items to assist you to perform your treatment at home. For instance, in NSW, you will be asked to purchase a recliner chair and a set of digital bathroom scales. In most cases, you will also be required to meet the cost of the plumbing to connect your machine to the water supply and to drainage. In the case of public housing residents, plumbing is arranged and paid for by the public housing authority.
To compensate for the extra water and power used during treatment, many local authorities provide rebates and concessions to dialysis patients.
There are differences between Australian State Health Departments in the administration of home dialysis programmes. Your renal unit will advise on what you need to purchase.
The process of learning to undertake home haemodialysis takes on average 6-9 weeks. It will be provided by the home haemodialysis training unit affiliated to your renal unit. Whilst practices may vary between renal units, your dialysis partner will usually be invited to attend for the last week or so of your training. It is not usually necessary for them to attend for the full duration of your training.
Nursing staff will teach you how to perform every aspect of your treatment at home. Once home, you will be provided with on-call nursing and technical back-up and regular visits or contact from both nursing and technical staff thereafter. You will continue to see your renal physician and GP on a regular basis for the usual monitoring of your health.
For many years it was customary for dialysis patients to dialyse with a partner or helper. However, as dialysis technology and machine reliability has improved, many people now dialyse completely independently, without the assistance of a dialysis partner. Of course, this arrangement would not suit everyone. Your renal physician and renal nursing staff can discuss whether such treatment would be suitable for you.
Your renal physician, social worker and nursing staff will discuss each of the dialysis modes and their suitability from both a medical and lifestyle perspective. Successful home dialysis relies on motivation, a stable and supportive family or network of friends, a desire to remain independent with direct control of one’s treatment and a practical and commonsense approach to the process of treatment. It is also essential to be medically stable during haemodialysis treatment.
Commencement on haemodialysis will perhaps require some changes in your diet. It is usual to monitor the levels of potassium, phosphate and salt in your diet. The renal dietitian will discuss your individual dietary requirements and tailor a diet to suit you. These guidelines will form a vital part of your treatment programme and compliment dialysis in maintaining a healthy balance of your body’s nutritional requirements and electrolytes.
Your medication requirements may change after commencement on haemodialysis. These too are crucial to your treatment. Your physician will advise on any changes. The hormone erythropoietin is commonly prescribed to treat the anaemia often associated with renal failure. The development of this drug has been a major breakthrough in improving the health and quality of life of those with renal failure. Other medications are prescribed to protect the health of your bones and to control hypertension. Vitamins are also prescribed. Taking medications as prescribed is one of the best things you can do to maintain your good health.
A regular programme of exercise or participation in a favourite sport is encouraged. It will enhance both your physical and mental well-being. Exercise has been found to improve haemoglobin levels in renal patients and thus, increase energy levels and stamina. Regular exercise will also help to maintain a healthy heart. Exercise also stimulates the release of endorphins, mood lifting chemicals in your brain and so helps to fight depression and contributes to a positive outlook on life.
It is desirable that you continue to play your favourite sports or choice of exercise because it’s a great way to stay fit and to maintain friendships and social outlets. You will feel energised and positive about your treatment and life in general if you maintain or commence a regular programme of exercise.
It is advisable before commencing a new exercise programme, to discuss its suitability with your physician.
It is common when diagnosed with a chronic illness such as renal failure to feel angry, depressed and cheated. Eventually these feeling will resolve, especially if you take advantage of the professional staff available in the renal unit to assist you. The social worker is expert in these matters and can help you to decide which treatment will best suit your lifestyle and to help you and your family return to a balanced and satisfying life. The social worker is available to discuss the emotional and practical issues associated with your treatment with your partner and close family members.
It is common to feel that your family and friends don’t really understand what it’s like to have renal failure and undergo dialysis treatment. It is important to share your feelings and concerns with those close to you, whilst also realising that they too may be affected by your illness and treatment. The quality of your relationships depends very much on good communication.
Talk with the staff if you are experiencing difficulties in your relationships. Particularly when you commence dialysis, many personal and family adjustments need to be made and everyone close to you is coming to terms with their reactions to what has happened. Access to accurate information about what to expect and the opportunity to discuss the impact of treatment on your personal, work and social life with staff is invaluable in making the necessary adjustments and restoring the balance in your life. Make sure to attend any educational sessions offered to you and your family.
It is not unusual to find that your sexual desires or activity have changed. The causes for people with renal failure are varied and the changes in sexual interest will occur at different times for different people and will vary in intensity.
Women may notice a decline in their sexual interest and some may stop menstruating. Men may have difficulty in maintaining an erection and their fertility may be reduced. If you experience these changes, talk it over with your partner so that it is clear that those changes are related to your illness. This may be difficult at first, but by talking through these changes and your feelings with your partner, you will find you have a good chance of resolving them and resuming a satisfactory physical relationship.
As your sense of well being improves and you manage a level of adjustment to the changes that have occurred in your life, you may notice an improvement in your sexual desires. If difficulties persist, your renal physician can refer you to the appropriate specialist or counsellor. Sexual activity is perfectly safe. Just give yourself time to adjust to your treatment and to feel your well-being return.
Further information on this subject is available in a booklet available from the Renal Resource Centre.
Although women who dialyse can conceive, the chances of the pregnancy reaching full term with a normal sized baby are low and so conception at this time is strongly discouraged. Men who dialyse can father children, so if a pregnancy is not desired, the most appropriate form of contraception should be discussed with your doctor. It is advised that pregnancy in a woman receiving dialysis treatment be postponed until at least two years after transplantation.
Being open and honest with your partner about your thoughts and feelings will help you to maintain and strengthen your relationship, resolving any difficulties as they occur.
It is important to recognise that the routine of haemodialysis treatment can at times seem relentless.... just like anything we must do on routine basis. It is useful therefore, to plan regular holidays for a change of scene and to provide a break from this routine for you, your dialysis partner and your family.
Dialysis centres are located in all capital cities and most major rural centres in Australia and the staff of your unit can assist you in planning your holidays. Dialysis is available overseas at no charge in public hospitals (subject to availability) to Australains eligible for Medicare, in New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, the Netherlands and Sweden, under the Reciprocal Health Care Agreement. Holders of passports for countries that are members of the European Union have access to dialysis in all countries that are members of the Union.
Dialysis treatment in other countries will incur a charge, which is not refundable by Medicare or private health funds. However, it is worth thoroughly checking with your private health fund to ascertain whether reimbursement at the Australian rate is at all possible - on the basis that the health fund would be required to reimburse dialysis costs in Australia if you regularly dialyse or holiday in a private clinic or hospital.
Holiday homes are owned and managed by various state based renal patient associations and are available for rental at very reasonable rates. These are usually located within reasonable distance to a dialysis unit. For home trained patients, temporary installation into your holiday accommodation of a machine, with which you are familiar, may be possible for the duration of your holiday. The feasability of such an arrangement will require discussion with your home training unit.
Some holiday homes are equipped with haemodialysis. Your social worker or nursing staff can provide details and assistance in making holiday arrangements.
We hope that after reading this booklet, you have a clearer understanding of haemodialysis. You may be feeling overwhelmed by the details of treatment and wondering how you will incorporate dialysis into your daily routine. Let us assure you that there are currently around 6,000 Australians receiving haemodialysis treatment and leading productive and satisfying lives. It is natural to feel uncertain and apprehensive at first. Eventually, everything will fall into place and you will regain a sense of control over your life and all that is happening to you. The aim of treatment is to restore you to your former lifestyle.
Although your kidneys are no longer working properly, dialysis, together with your medications, diet and fluid prescriptions and some regular exercise, can restore and maintain your health.
This booklet has been designed to give you a basic overview of haemodialysis. You may still have questions that have not been answered in sufficient detail. If this is the case, please discuss these questions with your renal physician, nurse or social worker.
Always remember that you are not alone in this. The staff of your renal unit understand that this can be a difficult time and that you may have many special concerns. They are there to help you successfully manage your treatment so that you may lead an active and fulfilling life.
As we move forward into this new century, it is worth reflecting on the vast improvements in dialysis treatment and the tremendous improvement in the enjoyment and quality of life of those having that treatment. It is now entirely possible to lead a full and satisfying life as a haemodialysis patient. General health, fitness and stamina are excellent and there is no reason why such good health cannot be maintained for many, many years.
RENAL RESOURCE CENTRE
37 Darling Point Road
Darling Point NSW 2027
Tel: 61 2 9362 3995 or 61 2 9362 3121
Freecall: 1800 257 189
Fax: 61 2 9362 4354
renalresource@doh.health.nsw.gov.au
www.renalresource.com
Renal Resource Centre