Types Of Dialysis

KYW Medical Reports Sponsored By Independence Blue Cross

By Dr. Brian McDonough, Medical Editor

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – There are over 300,000 people who undergo kidney dialysis in this country.

Dialysis takes the place of damaged kidneys as a way to filter impurities from the body.  The vast majority of people go to dialysis centers for their care three times a week, but another method is starting to gain in popularity.

Hemodialysis administered overnight.  Hemodialysis is one of two main types of dialysis treatment administering for patients whose kidneys are no longer functioning.  It uses a machine to remove waste and excess fluid from the blood.

The other technique is called peritoneal dialysis and it uses the lining of the patient's own abdomen as a filtering device.  When home hemodialysis is performed overnight, the patient sleeps while the machine does it's work.  Treatment usually takes place every other night.