Dialysis is a treatment that does part of the kidneys’ work — removing waste and extra fluid from the blood — when the kidneys can no longer do it well enough. This page gathers our best material in one place: how haemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis work, the access and catheters they need, and what life on dialysis is like.
Brachial-basilic AV fistula
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one port laparoscopic technique of peritoneal dialysis catheter placement
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Peritoneal Dialysis for Kidney Disease
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Hemodialysis Introduction for Kidney
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Kidney Disease Treatment
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Hemodialysis Machine Setup
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Does dialysis cure kidney failure?
No. Dialysis replaces part of what healthy kidneys do — removing waste and extra fluid — but it doesn’t repair the kidneys themselves. For some people a kidney transplant is an option that their team may discuss; others continue on dialysis long term.
Does dialysis hurt?
The treatment itself is generally not described as painful, though the needles used for haemodialysis access can cause brief discomfort, and cramps or a drop in blood pressure can happen during sessions. With peritoneal dialysis, the draining and filling can feel unusual at first. Your team can usually adjust things if a session feels difficult — tell them rather than putting up with it.
Can you live a normal life on dialysis?
Many people work, travel, and carry on with much of daily life while on dialysis, though it takes planning around sessions or exchanges, and energy levels vary. How someone feels depends on their overall health as much as on the dialysis itself, which is why follow-up with the kidney team matters.
This page is for general education only and is not medical advice. Dialysis decisions — whether, when and which type — are individual and made with your kidney team. If you are on dialysis and feel very unwell during or after a session, contact your unit promptly or seek urgent care.