Dialysis Treatment: What Is It and How Does It Work?

Healthy kidneys work around the clock, filtering waste, excess fluid, and toxins from your blood. When kidney function declines significantly, dialysis treatment steps in to perform part of this job, helping the body maintain a healthier balance.

In short, dialysis is a medical procedure that filters your blood when your kidneys can no longer do so effectively, removing waste and extra fluid while balancing electrolytes. Below:

• What dialysis is
• Why it's needed
• How hemodialysis works
• When to see a kidney specialist

Dialysis is a treatment that takes over part of the job your kidneys normally do. Healthy kidneys remove waste, balance electrolytes, and eliminate excess fluid; when kidney function drops too low, dialysis replaces some, but not all, of that role.

It helps by:



1. Removing waste products from the blood
2. Eliminating excess fluid
3. Maintaining a healthy balance of electrolytes, such as sodium and potassium
4. Supporting the body when kidney function is severely reduced

Why Might Someone Need Dialysis?

Common causes include:

• Chronic kidney disease (CKD)
• End-stage kidney disease (ESKD)
• Acute kidney injury (AKI)
• Diabetes
• High blood pressure
• Certain autoimmune diseases

Watch for swelling in the legs, ankles, or feet, fatigue, shortness of breath, nausea, poor appetite, or difficulty concentrating. A healthcare professional can help determine what's causing these symptoms and whether further evaluation is needed.

How Does Hemodialysis Work?

Step 1: Creating Vascular Access

Your care team creates a vascular access point to reach your bloodstream:

1. Arteriovenous (AV) fistula, generally the first choice for durability and lower infection risk
2. AV graft, used when a fistula isn't possible
3. Central venous catheter, a temporary access often placed in the neck

Step 2: Filtering the Blood

Blood travels through the dialysis machine into the dialyzer, or artificial kidney. There, diffusion removes waste products and ultrafiltration removes excess fluid, while the treatment also balances electrolytes such as sodium and potassium.

Step 3: Returning Clean Blood to the Body

The filtered blood returns safely to your body, completing the cycle, which repeats throughout the session to gradually reduce waste and fluid buildup.

What Happens During a Dialysis Session?

A typical session includes:

• Check-in and a health assessment
• Vital sign monitoring
• Connection to the dialysis machine
• Continuous monitoring throughout treatment
• A post-treatment evaluation

Hemodialysis is commonly performed three times per week, with each session lasting about three to four hours, depending on your individual medical condition.

What Are the Different Types of Dialysis?

Hemodialysis

Hemodialysis is the most widely used method, usually performed in a hospital or dialysis center, though home hemodialysis may suit certain patients.

Peritoneal Dialysis

Peritoneal dialysis uses the lining of your abdomen, the peritoneum, as a natural filter. It's often done at home and may offer more flexibility for suitable patients.

Neither method is universally better; the right choice depends on your medical needs, which your nephrologist can help you work through.

What Are the Benefits of Dialysis Treatment?

Dialysis helps remove waste and excess fluid, reduces symptoms of kidney failure, maintains electrolyte balance, improves quality of life, and supports patients awaiting a kidney transplant.

Are There Risks or Side Effects?

Some patients experience low blood pressure, muscle cramps, fatigue, headaches, nausea, or itchy skin. Your healthcare team monitors you closely, so these can be addressed quickly.

Does Dialysis Cure Kidney Disease?

Dialysis is a life-sustaining treatment, not a cure. It does not reverse chronic kidney disease or kidney failure; instead, it replaces part of your kidneys' filtering function, helping manage complications and symptoms.

When Should You See a Kidney Specialist?

Consider speaking with a kidney specialist if you notice persistent swelling, reduced urine output, blood in the urine, ongoing fatigue, uncontrolled high blood pressure, diabetes with declining kidney function, or abnormal kidney test results. If any of this sounds familiar, contact us to speak with our specialists or book an appointment for a kidney evaluation.

Take the Next Step for Your Kidney Health

Dialysis treatment helps people with significant kidney dysfunction by removing waste and excess fluid from the blood. Understanding how it works, from vascular access to filtration, can help you feel more prepared about the treatment ahead.

Early diagnosis and expert nephrology care remain some of the most helpful steps toward better long-term outcomes. If you have questions about your kidney health, the nephrology team at Bali International Hospital is here to help with personalized care.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is Dialysis?

Dialysis filters waste products, excess fluid, and toxins from the blood when the kidneys can no longer perform this function effectively on their own.

Why Do Patients Need Dialysis?

Patients typically need dialysis when kidney function has declined significantly due to conditions such as chronic kidney disease, acute kidney injury, diabetes, or high blood pressure.

How Long Does Dialysis Take?

A typical hemodialysis session lasts about three to four hours, usually three times per week. Peritoneal dialysis schedules vary and are often done daily at home.

Is Dialysis Painful?

Most patients feel only mild discomfort, such as a brief pinch when the vascular access is connected. Side effects like low blood pressure or cramping are monitored closely by your healthcare team.