Hemodialysis is a common procedure that removes waste from the bloodstream in patients’ whose kidneys does not function properly. The hemodialysis procedure consist of using a machine called the dialyzer, and the patients’ own veins, which is often called a fistula, to transfer blood back and forth from the dialyzer to the patients’ arm. However; because the fistula takes approximately six weeks to heal, patients often get a Vortex Graft placed, a Vortex Graft is plastic tubing placed inside of the patients’ vein most patients can use their graft in two to three weeks; However; there are some patients who have to start dialysis immediately; therefore, a Tunnel Catheter is placed, a Tunnel Catheter is a long flexible tube surgically inserted in a large vein in the neck, for immediate dialysis use.
Patients often do hemodialysis three days a week, every other day. Most patients’ dialysis treatment runs approximately three to five hours each day, depending on what type of access they have. The day of their hemodialysis treatment, patients weigh themselves at the center and prepare to be seated to start their treatment. The dialysis technicians prep the dialyzer before the patients are ready to start dialyzing. The dialysis technicians take the patients’ temperature and blood pressure before the patients are seated. The dialysis technicians cleans the access site and make sure the site is working