Electrolytes such as potassium, calcium, sodium, magnesium, and chloride ions are in the dialysate in concentrations camparable to the levels found normally in the patient's blood. This measure prevents the loss of these essential electrolytes out of the blood and into the dialysate. Blood cells are too large to pass through the pores. However, some waste molecules pass through the membrane and are carried away by the dialysate out of the body. The cleansed blood is then pumped back into the patient through the access.
Patients can also meet others who are in the same situation.
They can create support groups. Treatments will be scheduled by the treatment center. The patient must travel to the center, although many hospitals provide shuttle services for their patients. Patients have a small plastic catheter a little larger than intravenous tubing inserted into their abdominal cavity in a minor surgery. Dialysate from the bag is sent to the abdominal cavity through a catheter.