Hemodialysis (HD) is a treatment that removes the waste products and the excess
fluid that accumulate in the blood and body as a result of kidney failure. HD is used
as an intermittent therapy, meaning that the patient has his or her HD treatment 3
times per week. Each treatment lasts approximately 3 to 4 hours. Patients are
usually on a Monday-Wednesday-Friday or Tuesday-Thursday-Saturday schedule.
The cleaning of the blood takes place in an artificial kidney, also called a dialyzer.
Blood is pumped out of the body through plastic blood lines (arterial lines) through
the dialyzer and back into the body again (venous lines). This process is monitored
by the dialysis machine and the dialysis nurse