Dialysis — also called renal replacement therapy — cleans and filters waste from your blood after you are diagnosed with kidney failure. It does the job of your kidneys when they no longer work properly.
Hemodialysis is a type of dialysis that uses a machine to clean your blood. It is usually performed several times weekly in a dialysis clinic but may be done at home.
UPMC experts use the latest techniques and technology to provide life-prolonging dialysis care for people with kidney failure. Whether you need short-term dialysis treatment for acute kidney injury, longer-term dialysis treatment for chronic kidney disease, or dialysis treatment before a kidney transplant, our team will provide the advanced care you need.
Dialysis — also called renal replacement therapy — involves using a machine to clean and filter waste from your blood, replacing your kidneys when they no longer work properly.
Dialysis will do everything your kidneys used to do, including:
Hemodialysis is a type of dialysis that uses a machine to clean your blood. It is usually performed several times weekly in a dialysis clinic but may be done at home.
There are two types of hemodialysis, including:
Hemodialysis can be used to treat:
If your kidneys aren’t working properly due to acute kidney injury, chronic kidney disease, or end-stage kidney disease, you may be eligible for hemodialysis. Your doctor will let you know if hemodialysis is right for you.
You may be a candidate for hemodialysis if you have acute kidney injury, chronic kidney disease, or end-stage kidney disease that is causing kidney failure. Your doctor will let you know if you need short-term hemodialysis while your kidneys recover or if you need longer-term treatment while you wait for a kidney transplant.
Alternatives to hemodialysis include:
Hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis are both highly successful treatments for kidney failure. However, each has advantages and disadvantages.
Which type of dialysis is right for you depends on your condition, age, overall health, lifestyle, and treatment goals and preferences. Your doctor will discuss the pros and cons of each type of dialysis with you so you can choose the best option for your needs.
Hemodialysis is a life-saving treatment option for people with kidney failure.
However, like all medical treatments, there are some risks and side effects, including:
Your doctor will give you instructions on how to prepare for hemodialysis. Before you start hemodialysis, you will need a minor procedure called vascular access surgery.
Vascular access surgery creates a way for your blood to flow out of your body to the dialysis machine and back again. Depending on the procedure you're having, you may receive local or general anesthesia so you don’t feel any pain.
Types of vascular access procedures include:
Preparing to start hemodialysis can take several weeks or months. After you are ready to start, each in-clinic treatment will last about four hours and be performed three times weekly.
If you are getting hemodialysis at home, treatment is given five to seven times per week, with each treatment lasting two to three hours or overnight while you sleep three to six nights per week.
Your treatment will vary depending on whether you choose to have hemodialysis at home or a dialysis center.
When you arrive at the dialysis center, you will be seated in a comfortable chair in a room with other people who are receiving dialysis. Your dialysis nurse will place two needles in your arm. The needles are connected to tubes that run to the dialysis machine.
Your blood leaves your body through one needle, and the dialysis machine pumps it through a filter called a dialyzer. The dialyzer cleans your blood by removing waste products, excess salt, and water. After your blood is clean, the dialysis machine returns it to your body through the other needle.
You will receive treatment three times per week, with each treatment lasting about four hours. Most people use the time to watch a movie, read a book, nap, or work.
Nurses and other medical providers will assist you during your treatment. You will meet with a health care provider once a week and your kidney doctor once a month.
Instead of going to a dialysis center for your hemodialysis care, you may decide to have your hemodialysis treatments at home.
Home hemodialysis machines work the same way as clinic hemodialysis machines, but they are smaller and less powerful. That means you may have dialysis more frequently, and the treatments may take longer. Your doctor will tell you which home dialysis schedule is right for you.
Options may include:
If you choose home hemodialysis, you will learn how to treat yourself, use and clean the machine, monitor your health, order supplies, and take safety precautions. You may also be required to have a loved one learn how to give your hemodialysis treatment. You will need to have monthly follow-up appointments with your kidney doctor.
You may feel some discomfort during hemodialysis, mostly when the needles are inserted into your access site. Your dialysis nurse may be able to use numbing cream or spray to reduce discomfort when placing the needles. However, the treatment itself shouldn’t be painful.
You may feel tired after your hemodialysis treatment, especially if you are following a standard schedule. Your doctor may tell you to take it easy on days when you have treatment.
As you adjust to your hemodialysis schedule, you should notice an increase in your energy levels and a decrease in kidney failure symptoms.
You should call your doctor if you:
Your prognosis on hemodialysis depends on your age, overall health, how consistent you are with your treatment, and other factors. Your doctor will discuss your prognosis with you.
Although the average life expectancy for people on dialysis is five to 10 years, many people live much longer.
Hemodialysis is a highly successful, life-saving treatment for people who have kidney failure. However, it isn’t a cure for kidney failure.
Sometimes, hemodialysis may be a short-term treatment while your kidneys recover after an acute injury. Most people need to remain on dialysis for the rest of their lives unless they receive a kidney transplant.
When you choose UPMC for hemodialysis, you will receive:
By UPMC Editorial Staff. Last reviewed on 2025-04-24.
