When it comes to treating kidney failure with dialysis, you have certain options. From dialyzing at home to getting treated at a center, discover which one could better suit your lifestyle.
Home dialysis options
Peritoneal dialysis (PD)
PD is a needle-free treatment done at home that uses the lining of the abdomen (or belly) to filter waste from the blood. It is the treatment most similar to your natural kidney function1. Some of the potential benefits of PD include:
Control of your own treatment and a more flexible schedule
Greater ability to pursue personal interests
Preservation of remaining kidney function, leading to enhanced clinical outcomes
Better transplant outcomes
Home hemodialysis (HHD)
HHD works just like in-center hemodialysis by using an external filter to clean toxins from your body, only the machine is smaller and more user-friendly. There are many potential benefits to HHD, such as:
The ability to dialyze in the comfort of your own home
Greater ability to travel
Shorter recovery time after treatments2
Fewer medications required3
Dialysis center options
In-center hemodialysis
In-center hemodialysis requires you to visit a dialysis center three times per week. It uses a machine to filter your blood and clear toxins from your kidneys. In-center hemodialysis offers several potential benefits, which include:
The chance to socialize with other patients and staff
A personalized care team
No supplies to store at home
In-center nocturnal dialysis
In-center nocturnal dialysis allows you to dialyze in-center overnight three times per week, for 6-8 hours while you sleep. It also includes potential benefits such as:
No interference with daytime schedule
An improved appetite4
Better blood pressure control5
1 PD: Burkart J and Golper T. www.update.com. Patient information: Peritoneal dialysis (Beyond the Basics). HHD: Galland R et al. Kidney International. 2001;60:155-1560. | 2 PD: Renal Resource Center. An Introduction to Peritoneal Dialysis. www.renalresource.com. HHD: Jaber BL et al. Am J Kidney Dis. 2010;56:531-539. Nocturnal: Buqeia A et al. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2009 Apr;4(4):778-783. | 3 PD & HHD: Parker K et al. Kidney J. 2014;7:557-561. Nocturnal: Ok E et al. Nephrol Dial Transplant. 2011;26(4):1287-1295. | 4 HHD: Galland R et al. Kidney International. 2001;60:1555-1560. Nocturnal: Buqeja A et al. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2009 Apr;4(4)778-783.| 5 PD: St PeterWL et al. BMC Nephrol. 2013; 14:249. HHD: FHN Trial Group. N Engl J Med. 2010 Dec;363(24):2287-2300. Nocturnal: Ranganathan D et al. Indian J Nephrol. 2012 Sep-Oct;22(5):323-332.
When you are diagnosed with kidney disease and need dialysis or a transplant, you’ll want to understand your insurance options, how to receive financial assistance and more.
