DIALYSIS IN RICHMOND, VIRGINIA

Helping To Improve Kidney Function

Properly functioning kidneys prevent extra water, waste, and other impurities from accumulating in your body. They also help control blood pressure and regulate the levels of chemical elements in the blood. These elements may include sodium and potassium. Your kidneys even activate a form of vitamin D that improves the absorption of calcium.

Our kidney specialists at Richmond Nephrology Associates provide many locations and options for dialysis.

What Is Dialysis?

The kidneys filter your blood by removing waste and excess fluid from your body. This waste is sent to the bladder to be eliminated when you urinate. When your kidneys can’t perform these functions due to disease or injury, dialysis can help keep the body running as normally as possible by filtering and purifying the blood using a machine. This helps keep your fluids and electrolytes in balance when the kidneys can’t do their job. However, it isn’t a cure for kidney disease or other problems affecting the kidneys. Different treatments may be needed to address those concerns.

If you are looking for a better way to manage your kidney disease and your treatment, contact our kidney specialists at Richmond Nephrology Associates.

DIALYSIS
dialysis

Types Of Dialysis

Hemodialysis

Hemodialysis is the most common type of dialysis. This process uses an artificial kidney (hemodialyzer) to remove waste and extra fluid from the blood. The blood is removed from the body and filtered through the artificial kidney. The filtered blood is then returned to the body with the help of a machine.

Hemodialysis treatments usually last three to five hours and are performed three times per week. However, hemodialysis treatment can also be completed in shorter, more frequent sessions.

Most hemodialysis treatments are performed at a hospital, doctor’s office, or dialysis center. The length of treatment depends on your body size, the amount of waste in your body, and the current state of your health.

After you’ve been on hemodialysis for an extended period of time, your doctor may feel that you’re ready to give yourself treatments at home. This option is more common for people who need long-term treatment.

Peritoneal Dialysis

Peritoneal dialysis involves surgery to implant a peritoneal dialysis (PD) catheter into your abdomen. The catheter helps filter your blood through the peritoneum, a membrane in your abdomen. During treatment, a special fluid called dialysate flows into the peritoneum. The dialysate absorbs waste. Once the dialysate draws waste out of the bloodstream, it’s drained from your abdomen.

This process takes a few hours and needs to be repeated four to six times per day. However, the exchange of fluids can be performed while you’re sleeping or awake.

Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy

This therapy is used primarily in the intensive care unit for people with acute kidney failure. It’s also known as hemofiltration. A machine passes the blood through a filter that removes waste products and water. The blood is returned to the body, along with replacement fluid. This procedure is performed 12 to 24 hours a day, generally every day.

Are there any alternatives to dialysis?

Dialysis is time-consuming and expensive. Not everyone chooses it, particularly if they’re experiencing severe, acute kidney failure.

There are other treatment options that may help manage your symptoms. 

  • Anemia management – When the kidneys are working properly, the hormone erythropoietin (EPO) is produced naturally in the body. To help with an under-functioning kidney, you can get an injection of EPO every week.

  • Hypertension management – Good blood pressure can help slow the deterioration of your kidney.

  • Kidney transplant – Transplant is another option for some people. It’s also a long-term commitment. You might not be a good candidate for a kidney transplant if you:

    • Smoke
    • Heavily use alcohol
    • Are obese
    • Have an untreated mental health condition

If you decide not to pursue dialysis or need a second opinion, contact our kidney specialists at Richmond Nephrology Associates to discuss other options.

Dialysis Access Health

Dialysis requires an access point to the patient. A vascular specialist—an interventional radiologist, interventional nephrologist or vascular surgeon—will work closely with the patient and their nephrologist to determine the type of access best for the patient and provide the care and maintenance of that access.

Dialysis access is essentially a patient’s lifeline to treatment and good health. Having well-functioning access that handles adequate blood flow allows for the most effective treatment. But what happens when your access becomes dysfunctional?

When your access isn’t performing optimally during dialysis, you may need to see a vascular specialist for access management so that you may continue with your dialysis treatments. Access interventions, including a fistulogram, angioplasty, stent placement, thrombolysis or thrombectomy, may be performed to improve or restore your access’s blood flow.

Our kidney specialists at Richmond Nephrology Associates will maintain your dialysis access health for you.

Dialysis Centers

In-Center Dialysis Units

DaVita Locations

  • Charter Colony

  • Chester

  • Forest Hill

  • Glenside

  • Henrico

  • Hopkins

  • Laburnum

  • Mechanicsville

  • Midlothian

  • Prince George

  • South Richmond

  • Three Chopt

Fresenius Locations

  • Goochland

  • Laurel Park

  • West End

U.S. Renal Care Location

  • Ashland

Dialysis Centers

Peritoneal Dialysis/Home Hemodialysis Units

DaVita Locations

  • Glenside

  • Henrico

  • Hioaks

  • Laburnum

  • Prince George

  • Three Chopt

Fresenius Locations

  • Goochland

  • West End

REQUEST YOUR APPOINTMENT

With Richmond Nephrology Associates

MEET YOUR DOCTORS services