Hemodialysis
Improving the life of dialysis patients
Kidneys perform an important job in the body. They function as filters that prevent toxins and excess fluid from accumulating. A reduction in kidney function below 10 to 15% is life-threatening. Thankfully, there are treatments and medications that can replace the functions of kidneys. Farmasol is one of those pioneers helping to build the best possible quality of life for dialysis patients. This section introduces you to the world of Haemodialysis. You will find in a few questions, answers to what Hemodialysis means, how it works and why it ensures a better quality of life for our patients.
FAQ
While healthy kidneys have several functions in the body, the most well-known job is to produce urine. When kidney function goes below 10% to 15% kidneys are no longer able to filter the blood and make urine. This causes toxins to build up in the body along with excess fluid. Fortunately, we live in a time when there are treatments and medicines that can replace the functions of the kidneys and keep the body alive. One type of renal replacement therapy — meaning a treatment that replaces kidney function — is hemodialysis. Hemodialysis is a therapy that filters waste, removes extra fluid and balances electrolytes (sodium, potassium, bicarbonate, chloride, calcium, magnesium and phosphate).
In hemodialysis, blood is removed from the body and filtered through a man-made membrane called a dialyzer, or artificial kidney, and then the filtered blood is returned to the body. The average person has about 10 to 12 pints of blood; during dialysis only one pint (about two cups) is outside of the body at a time. To perform hemodialysis there needs to be an access created to get the blood from the body to the dialyzer and back to the body. There are three access types for hemodialysis: arteriovenous (AV) fistula, AV graft and central venous catheter. The AV fistula is the vascular access most recommended by the dialysis community; however, you and your doctor will decide which access is best for you.
When a patient goes to hemodialysis, a nurse or technician will check vital signs and get the patient’s weight. The weight gain will tell how much excess fluid the patient has to have removed during the treatment. The patient is then “put on the machine”. Patient with a vascular access (AV fistula or AV graft) will get two needle sticks in their access; one needle takes blood out of the body, the other needle puts it back. Patients with a central venous catheter will have the two tubes from their access connected to the blood tubes that lead to the dialyzer and back to the body. Once the patient is “put on the machine”, the dialysis machine is programmed and then treatment begins.
Blood never actually goes through the dialysis machine. The dialysis machine is like a big computer and a pump. It keeps track of blood flow, blood pressure, how much fluid is removed and other vital information. It mixes the dialysate, or dialysis solution, which is the fluid bath that goes into the dialyzer. This fluid helps pull toxins from the blood, and then the bath goes down the drain. The dialysis machine has a blood pump that keeps the blood flowing by creating a pumping action on the blood tubes that carry the blood from the body to the dialyzer and back to the body. The dialysis machine also has many safety detection features. If you visit a dialysis center, you will likely hear some of the warning sounds made by a dialysis machine.
The dialyzer is the key to hemodialysis. The dialyzer is called the artificial kidney because it filters the blood — a job the kidneys used to do. The dialyzer is a hollow plastic tube about a foot long and three inches in diameter that contains many tiny filters. (Dialyzers are made in different sizes so doctors can prescribe the best one for their patients.) There are two sections in the dialyzer; the section for dialysate and the section for the blood. The two sections are divided by a semipermeable membrane so that they don’t mix together. A semipermeable membrane has microscopic holes that allow only some substances to cross the membrane. Because it is semipermeable, the membrane allows water and waste to pass through, but does not allow blood cells to pass through.
Dialysate, also called dialysis fluid, dialysis solution or bath, is a solution of pure water, electrolytes and salts, such as bicarbonate and sodium. The purpose of dialysate is to pull toxins from the blood into the dialysate. The way this works is through a process called diffusion. In the blood of the hemodialysis patient, there is a high concentration of waste, while the dialysate has a low concentration of waste. Due to the difference in concentration, the waste will move through the semipermeable membrane to create an equal amount on both sides. The dialysis solution is then flushed down the drain along with the waste. The electrolytes in the dialysis solution are also used to balance the electrolytes in the patient’s blood. The extra fluid is removed through a process called filtration. The fluid is pushed off by higher pressure on the blood side than on the dialysate side.
Blood needs to flow through the dialyzer for several hours to adequately clean the blood and rid the body of excess fluid. Traditional, in-center hemodialysis is generally done three times a week for about four hours each session. Your doctor will prescribe how long your treatments will be, usually between 3 to 5 hours, but most common is 4 hours. Talk to your doctor about how long you should be on hemodialysis. Some people feel that dialysis lasts a long time; however, healthy kidneys work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and dialysis must do the job in only 12 or so hours a week.
Alternative hemodialysis schedules include nocturnal and short daily. Normally, these treatments are performed by people who do home hemodialysis. With nocturnal hemodialysis, the patient has dialysis for about eight hours overnight while sleeping. This is a longer, gentler treatment so patients say they have fewer problems with cramping and the “washed out” feeling reported after traditional hemodialysis. More dialysis centers are beginning to offer in-center nocturnal hemodialysis based on reports of patients feeling better about their quality of life and having good lab results. Short daily hemodialysis is performed five or six times per week for about two to three hours each treatment. Talk to your doctor if you are interested in home hemodialysis or in-center nocturnal dialysis. You may want to ask your social worker if addition treatments, such as the longer nocturnal hemodialysis and short daily hemodialysis will be covered through your insurance.
Hemodialysis is an effective treatment for those with end stage renal disease. However, hemodialysis alone will not provide a complete treatment for those with kidney failure. Diet and fluid restrictions need to be followed, and medicines may need to be taken to replace other functions of the kidneys, such as regulating blood pressure and stimulating production of red blood cells to prevent anemia.
For those who choose in-center hemodialysis, some of the benefits are that they will have their treatments performed in a dialysis center by trained professionals. They can spend their time in dialysis sleeping, reading, writing, watching television, listening to music or doing other quiet activities. There are four days a week when they will not have to go to dialysis. Some of the disadvantages are that they will have to travel to and from hemodialysis three times each week and it takes advanced notice to travel and arrange for dialysis in a visiting dialysis center. The diet restrictions include limiting foods that contain phosphorus, potassium and sodium and drinking a limited amount of fluid. Some people report a “washed out” feeling after hemodialysis and go home to take a nap. Those who perform nocturnal hemodialysis (in center or at home) report that this washed out feeling is not as common. Also, because nocturnal dialysis is performed during nonproductive sleeping hours, many people report they feel that their lives are more “normal” because they don’t have to take time out of their days for dialysis.
People who choose to perform hemodialysis at home say they enjoy the feeling of control they have over their lives. Instead of going to the dialysis center at a certain time, they can choose when to perform hemodialysis around their schedule.
There is another type of dialysis called peritoneal dialysis (PD). PD is done by filling the peritoneum in the abdomen with dialysate and using the peritoneal membrane as a semipermeable membrane. There are diet and fluid restrictions with peritoneal dialysis; however, these are usually not as limited as hemodialysis because this therapy is performed every day. PD treatments are performed at home, and so do not require three visits to a treatment center each week. Peritoneal dialysis also has a nighttime treatment option that makes it easier for patients to work, attend school or travel.
All dialysis treatments have their advantages and disadvantages. Based on your lifestyle and medical needs, you and your doctor can discuss your options and decide which one is right for you.
Small molecules like urea are removed by diffusion. The driving force is the concentration gradient. Along the concentration gradient the molecules move through the membrane wall, from blood into dialysate, to reach (electro-) chemical equilibrium. This therapy model is called low-flux hemodialysis, as the flow across the membrane wall is low (<10 ml/h/mmHg).
Larger molecules, particularly the so-called middle molecules (low molecular weight proteins like beta-2-microglobulin), can preferably be removed by convection across the membrane wall, achieved by a pressure gradient across the membrane. Therefore, the membrane needs to be more permeable and must have larger pores to allow passage of these larger molecules. As the water flux across the membrane wall is higher (>20 ml/h/mmHg) compared to low-flux dialysis, this therapy mode is called high-flux hemodialysis.
Dialyzer membranes come with different pore sizes. Those with smaller pore size are called “low-flux” and those with larger pore sizes are called “high-flux.” Some larger molecules, such as beta-2-microglobulin, are not removed at all with low-flux dialyzers; lately, the trend has been to use high-flux dialyzers.
Strong Polyethersulfone (PES) membrane is a hydrophilic membrane constructed from a pure and high-temperature Polyethersulfone polymer, that is acid and base resistant. The strength and durability of PES membrane filters are especially advantageous during procedures that require aggressive handling or automated equipment. Farmasol’s PES membrane is available with large pore sizes and high capillary flow rates suitable for lateral flow devices. PES membrane filters are designed to remove particulates during general filtration. Their low protein and drug binding characteristics also make Polyethersulfone (PES) membrane disc filters ideally suited for use in life science applications. Polyethersulfone membranes activate complement to a lesser degree than unsubstituted cellulose membranes. Polyethersulfone membranes can be made in either low- or high-flux configuration, but most are high-flux. Nephrologists typically use some form of the technique called urea kinetic modeling to determine their dialysis prescription. Using national standards for adequacy of dialysis, and after taking residual renal function into account, urea kinetic modeling uses the dialyzer’s performance characteristics and the patient’s weight to derive an estimate of the time required for dialysis. Since high flux dialysis (also called high efficiency dialysis in some centers) is so much more efficient, it can allow significant reduction of dialysis times, often by 25 percent. Thus, the patient receives adequate dialysis, but minimizes the discomfort of long dialysis times. However, it is important to note that adequacy of dialysis must be maintained. Some patients may not be able to greatly shorten dialysis times when switching from conventional to high flux dialysis.
The major possible disadvantage of high flux dialysis regards pyrogenic reactions. These reactions, characterized by high temperatures in patients during dialysis treatments, are caused by small pieces of dead bacteria that can be found in the dialysate. Although these reactions are not dangerous, they are uncomfortable for patients, and typically require short hospitalizations for observation. Some nephrologists feel that because high flux dialyzers have larger pores, the bacterial particles can pass more easily into the patient’s bloodstream, and that patients on high flux dialysis have more frequent pyrogenic reactions. This observation remains to be confirmed. Patients are not required to make any changes from their point of view in using high flux dialysis. Typically, they actually feel better, especially in terms of having less post-dialysis fatigue. High flux dialysis requires only minor technical adjustments in the dialyzing system, and will continue to be adopted by more and more dialysis centers throughout the country.
Polyethersulfone (PES) membrane for aqueous solutions provides removal of fine particles, bacteria, viruses, and fungi making it a versatile membrane for applications such as sample preparation, sterile filtration and infusion therapy. PES is an inherently hydrophilic membrane that wets out quickly and completely resulting in fast filtration with superior flow rates and high throughputs. The hydrophilic nature of PES means no added surfactants are used to increase wettability. PES membrane is also extremely low protein binding minimizing the likelihood of target analytic binding. Polyethersulfone membrane is compatible with EtO, gamma irradiation, and autoclave methods of sterilization.
This strong, microporous PES membrane is constructed from a high-temperature Polyethersulfone polymer that is acid and base resistant. The strength and durability of PES membrane filters are especially advantageous during procedures that require aggressive handling or automated equipment. Farmasol’s PES membrane is available with large pore sizes and high capillary flow rates suitable for lateral flow devices. It saves time and money with fewer filter changes per sample volume
A Fistula is created by sewing an artery and vein together , most often in an arm. Arteries carry Oxygen to the rest of the body.
The artery vessels selected for a fistula are large and have a good blood flow, but are deep below the skin and hard to reach with needles. On the contrary veins are easy to reach, but too small and too slow flowing for dialysis. Linking an artery and a vein is the best solution. In 4-6 weeks, high-pressure blood flow from the artery thickens the vein wall and make it enlarge so large needles can be used. Because a fistula is below the skin, it is less prone to infection and clotting than other types of access.
A fistula can last for years and it is the best type of access now available. New surgical techniques and ways to assess and preserve blood vessels have made fistulae an option for more patients.
Blog
Farmasol joins Pollet Medical Group
January 7, 2025 – Farmasol, manufacturer of disposable products for dialysis, becomes part of Pollet Medical Group. The Turkish company counts 250 people and 2 production sites in Kayseri, Turkey. Pollet Medical Group is a Belgian group who operates in three domains: dialysis, plasmapheresis and sterilisation. PMG and Farmasol are both 100% family-owned businesses.
Farmasol takes a sustainable decision for green manufacturing
Green news! Farmasol is proud to announce groundbreaking decision for sustainability and renewable energy – the installation of a cutting-edge 1.7 MW solar power plant at the field in Nevsehir region. Over the next 25 years, this revolutionary solar power plant is projected to generate whole energy consumption of main manufacturing plant of Farmasol with an impressive approx. 60 million kWh of clean, renewable energy.