Handbook of Dialysis

The clinical process of removing excess solutes, toxins and water from the blood in patients with compromised kidney function is known as dialysis or renal replacement therapy. It is a common procedure in acute kidney disease or stage 5 chronic kidney disease. Dialysis is not a comprehensive therapy as it cannot heal the kidney. However it serves to replace its function through diffusion and ultrafiltration. Hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis are two primary types of dialysis. In the former, blood is circulated outside the body through a dialyzer containing a semipermeable membrane and the wastes are removed, while in the latter, the peritoneum is used a natural semipermeable membrane and the wastes are removed inside the body. Hemofiltration, intestinal dialysis and hemodiafiltration are some other dialysis techniques. This book outlines the techniques and applications of dialysis in detail. The various types of dialysis are glanced at and their practices and procedures are looked at in detail. This book will serve as a valuable source of reference for graduate and post graduate students.