Today there is no known cure for ESRD but there are successful treatment options. Dialysis is the medical treatment for eliminating waste and extra fluid from the bloodstream that the kidneys can no longer remove. Kidney transplantation is an operation performed by a surgeon to replace the damaged kidney with a healthy one from another person.
Many factors determine which therapy is best for an individual.
The blood is then pumped through a machine containing a filtering system called a dialyzer that cleanses the blood and returns the cleansed blood back to the body. This treatment option requires a minor surgical operation to create an access site in the arm, near the collarbone, or the leg. Most HD patients receive treatment at a special center while some are able to perform the therapy at home with assistance. Most HD patients require four-hour dialysis sessions three times a week. Since HD is administered multiple times a week, people often feel tired or nauseated between sessions due to the build-up of toxins in the bloodstream.