A person is connected to the dialysis machine via the shunt. The dialysis machine pumps the blood through the dialyzer, which filters off the waste products, excess fluid, and excess body chemicals. The newly cleaned blood flows out of the dialyzer and is returned via a different set of tubes. During dialysis, a person also recieves the hormones the kidneys are unable to produce. Most hemodialysis is performed at a dialysis center, specialized centers staffed by nurses and dialysis technicians with thorough training in the process.
Some patients receive hemodialysis at home.
This requires intensive training and the assistance of a designated care giver. This is an entirely different way of filtering wastes from the body. Peritoneal dialysis utilizes the peritoneal membrane, which is the lining of the abdominal cavity. The peritoneal membrane is very large, and has a rich blood supply. The dialysate remains in this cavity for two to six hours, during which the wastes, extra fluid, and excess chemicals pass from the blood vessels in the peritoneal membrane into the dialysate fluid, Then, the dialysate fluid is drained from the abdomen via the catheter.