Dialysis treatment is used for patients who suffer from end-stage renal disease (kidney failure) caused by a variety of different disorders, but most often by diabetes or high blood pressure. Patients on dialysis have their blood cleansed and processed, using dialysis machines, two to four times a week for up to four hours each session. Because dialysis is a highly time consuming and physical demanding treatment, the Dialysis Center at Mount Sinai Medical Center is sensitive to the need for comfort and provides services using the most advanced equipment.
Like healthy kidneys, dialysis keeps a patient's body in balance by removing waste, salt and extra water to prevent them from building up in the body, maintaining a safe level of certain chemicals such as potassium, sodium and bicarbonate in the blood and controlling blood pressure. Dialysis becomes necessary when a person's kidneys no longer remove enough waste and fluid from the blood to maintain good health. This usually happens when only 10 to 15 percent of a patient's kidney function remains.
While dialysis does some of the work of healthy kidneys, it does not cure kidney disease. Some patients need dialysis throughout life, some patients suffer from acute kidney failure and get better after treatment and some patients qualify for a kidney transplant.
For a referral to a Mount Sinai nephrologist, call the physician referral line at 305.674.2273 and a representative will personally assist you. The interactive physician referral portion of the website will be active soon.
Share this with your friends
