Regular dialysis to ensure better health for kidney failure patients

Hyderabad: The build-up of toxins and fluid in the body of patients with kidney failure, damages the functioning of heart leading to cardiac arrest. At present, most patients undergo dialysis three times a week resulting in a gap of 1-2 days between each session.

Dr Pradeep Deshpande, senior nephrologist at Gandhi Hospital, said, “The recommended procedure is that dialysis must be given for eight hours, three times in a week. However, as there is an increase in the toxin level, some experts believe that daily dialysis will ensure good health. This requires more infrastructure and also the patient must be committed to come to the hospital every day. The expenses too are more.”

With 75 per cent of the dialysis patients succumbing to cardiovascular diseases, doctors are now recommending home dialysis. However, a home set-up costs nearly Rs 20 lakh and is not possible for most of the patients. In Hyderabad, only one person has installed a set-up at home so far.

Nephrologist Dr K.S. Nayak said, “Patients hesitate because they are not sure if they will be able to handle the dialysis process at home. Moreover, the quality of water available too is a problem.” The changing trend worldwide has made home dialysis a possibility, but in India, doctors state that it will take longer for people to open up to the idea because of poor water quality.