• End stage renal disease is usually treated with hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis or renal transplantation
• Hemodialysis machines and peritoneal dialysis employ both dialysis and hemofiltration
• Dialysis describes the equilibration of substances across a semipermeable membrane
• Hemofiltration describes the bulk flow of water and soluble substances with it, across a membrane, under the influence of hydrostatic or osmotic pressure differences across the membrane
• Hemodialysis requires blood access
• Acute complications include hypotension, hypoxemia, cramps, headache and initially dialysis disequilibrium
• Chronic complications include infection, access problems and dialysis amyloid (containing beta 2 microglobulin )

Interactive questions on this chapter

Go direct to answers and explanations

See other Chapters in this section

{Try the self-assessment to help learn this topic}

---

C. A. O'Callaghan 2004