Also, it is best to eat before treatment, since dialysis can take 4 to 5 hours and you will not be permitted to eat during the procedure. With children it is especially important to have games, something to read, or other distractions. The kidneys function as filters for the blood, removing products of amino acid breakdown. More than that, they serve to reclaim and regulate body water, maintain electrolyte balance, and ensure that the blood pH remains between 7.35 and 7.45. Without the function of the kidney, life is not possible.
Dialysis serves to replace some of the functions of the kidney.
Since dialysis is not an constant ongoing process, it cannot serve as a constant monitor as do normal functioning kidneys, but it can eliminate waste products and restore electrolyte and pH levels on an as needed basis. The kidneys are responsible for removing wastes from the body, regulating electrolyte balance and blood pressure, and the stimulation of red blood cell production. The gross anatomical structure of the kidney is illustrated. The blood vessels are shown in red and the urine flow pattern in yellow.