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PRINCIPLES OF HEMODIALYSIS
In Hemodialysis, the blood flows outside of the body by means of plastic tubes known as blood lines, into a specially-designed filter or a dialyzer. The dialyzer functions as an "artificial kidney" by separating waste products and excess water from the blood. Dialysis solution carries away the waste products and excess water, and the cleansed blood is returned to the patient.
The process is controlled by a Hemodialysis machine, which pumps blood, adds anticoagulants, regulates the purification process and controls the mixing of dialysis
solution and the rate of its flow through the system. This machine can also monitor and record the patient's vital signs. A patient typically receives three treatments per week, lasting from 3 to 6 hours each.