Pediatric Hemodialysis

Dialysis is used when the kidneys stop working. Kidney failure may be temporary or last forever. Kidney failure is also known as end-stage renal disease, or ESRD for short. ESRD is diagnosed when there is permanent loss of 90% of total kidney function.

What is Pediatric Hemodialysis?

Pediatric hemodialysis is a machine that is used to clean the blood outside of the body.

How does Pediatric Hemodialysis work?

A dialysis machine uses a pump to remove blood from your child’s vascular access (central line, graft or fistula).

As the blood goes through the tubing outside the body, it is cleaned by a fluid called dialysate (di-al-y-sate). The dialysate fluid removes the waste and fluid from the blood. Your child’s doctor orders the dialysate based on your child’s needs.

Once the blood is cleaned, the clean blood returns back to your child through their vascular access.

Each hemodialysis treatment lasts about four hours. They are done three or more times a week. The doctor will give you a prescription that tells you how much treatment your child needs to keep them healthy.