HEMODIALYSIS UNIT
General Information
In hemodialysis, a dialysis machine and a special filter called an artificial kidney, or a dialyzer, are used to clean your blood. These devices perform extracorporeal dialysis to replace the main activity of the kidneys in patients with impaired renal function, such as those with end-stage renal disease. To get your blood into the dialyzer, the doctor needs to make an access, or entrance, into your blood vessels. This is done with minor surgery, usually to your arm.
The dialyzer, or filter, has two parts, one for your blood and one for a washing fluid called dialysate. A thin membrane separates these two parts. Blood cells, protein and other important things remain in your blood because they are too big to pass through the membrane. Smaller waste products in the blood, such as urea, creatinine, potassium and extra fluid pass through the membrane and are washed away, and the rest is returned to the patient. Most of the treated disesases with hemodialysis are acute renal failure, chronic renal failure, acute and chronic nephritis, nephrotic syndrome, intoxications etc.
One patient usually undergoes dialysis three times a week for about 4 hours at a time.
The hemodialysis unit is on the ground floor of the main hospital building. There are 3 physicians, 13 certified nurses and 2 technicians in our unit. Our unit serves an average of 100 patients per day with 29 dialysis machines. The dialysis unit functions in 2 shift for patient care. Asepsis is strictly maintained and monitored. Each patient bed has a personal LCD television.
Dialysis is also realized in intensive care units when needed.
The transportation of our patients from home to hospital and from hospital to home is done by our hospital’s special service vehicles.
Rigorous precautions are taken with patients suffering from Hepatitis B, HBsAG(+), HCV, HIV and dialysis for such patients is done on separate machines.