You will usually need to see a Hackensack vascular surgeon between four and eight weeks prior to starting dialysis to have the AV fistula created and allow it to heal.
Hemodialysis is usually performed three times each week for about four hours each session. The process is performed by inserting two thin needles into the AV fistula and taping them securely into place. One of the needles will pull the blood from your body and into the machine where it will flow through a series of membranes to remove the waste. Once the blood has been cleaned, it is pumped back into your body through the second needle.
Hemodialysis causes rapid changes in blood fluid levels, sometimes causing the patient to feel sick and/or dizzy. The treatments may be given in the hospital or you may be able to give them yourself at home.
Peritoneal dialysis can also be done at home. The cleaning fluid (dialysate) is allowed to flow into the abdomen through the opening that was prepared by the Bergen County vascular surgeon and is then left inside for a predetermined amount of time before being drained out into the waste bag.
There are pros and cons to each type of dialysis. Talk to your vascular specialist in Hackensack about which type of dialysis is right for your condition and learn what steps to take to prepare for your treatment.