Haemodialysis is a procedure performed to manage patients suffering from kidney failure. A dialysis machine takes over the function of the diseased kidneys by filtering the blood of wastes. During dialysis you will be attached to a machine called a dialyser through a thin tube. Your blood is then drawn into the machine for filtration through a needle inserted in your arm. The blood is circulated in the dialyser and the filtered blood is returned back to the body through another tube. This is usually performed three times a week, so it requires easy access to the bloodstream each time. Vascular access is a surgically created large vein that provides easy access to the bloodstream and can withstand repeated needle insertions.
There are two types of vascular accesses created for long-term use:
- Arteriovenous fistula: An abnormal connection surgically created between an artery and a vein. This allows the blood vessel to grow larger and have thicker walls, facilitating repeated puncturing. It provides good blood flow and is preferred for its lower rate of infection and clot formation, and greater longevity.
- Arteriovenous graft: A thin, flexible, synthetic tube (graft) is used to attach one end of an artery with another end of a vein. The graft is punctured to draw blood.
The vascular access is created weeks or months before you can undergo haemodialysis.
Haemodialysis ni utaratibu unaofanywa ili kusimamia wagonjwa wanaopatwa na kushindwa kwa figo. Mashine ya kuchuja damu huchukua kazi ya figo zilizo na ugonjwa kwa kuchuja damu ya taka. Wakati wa dialysis utaunganishwa na mashine inayoitwa dialyser kupitia bomba nyembamba. Kisha damu yako huchukuliwa ndani ya mashine ili ichunguzwe kupitia sindano iliyoingizwa mkononi mwako. Damu inazungushwa katika kichocheo cha damu na damu iliyochujwa inarudishwa mwilini kupitia bomba jingine. Kwa kawaida, upasuaji huo hufanywa mara tatu kwa juma, kwa hiyo inahitaji upasuaji huo ufanywe kwa urahisi kila wakati. Vena kubwa ya mishipa ya damu ni mshipa mkubwa ulioundwa kwa upasuaji ambao hutoa upatikanaji rahisi wa damu na unaweza kuvumilia kuingizwa kwa sindano mara kwa mara. Kuna aina mbili za upatikanaji wa mishipa iliyoundwa kwa matumizi ya muda mrefu: - Arteriovenous fistula: Muunganisho wa kawaida ulioundwa kwa upasuaji kati ya mshipa na mshipa. Hilo huwezesha mishipa ya damu kukua na kuwa na kuta nzito zaidi, na hivyo kuwezesha kupasuka mara kwa mara. Inatoa mtiririko mzuri wa damu na hupendekezwa kwa sababu ya kiwango chake cha chini cha maambukizo na uundaji wa kuganda, na urefu mkubwa wa maisha. - Arteriovenous graft: Tubu nyembamba, rahisi, ya synthetic (graft) hutumiwa kuunganisha mwisho mmoja wa mshipa na mwisho mwingine wa mshipa. Mchanganyiko huo hupigwa ili kuondoa damu. Upatikanaji wa mishipa huanzishwa majuma au miezi kabla ya wewe kufanyiwa upasuaji wa damu.