Hemodialysis for the Non-nephrologist

Hemodialysis is now routinely provided to more than 300,000 patients in the United States. An epidemic of end-stage renal disease will nearly double this number by 2010. Patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis have high morbidity and mortality rates. Given these facts, most medical providers will be involved in the care of patients undergoing hemodialysis and it is thus important to have an understanding of the dialysis procedure and its attendant risks. This review discusses the basic physiology of the dialysis procedure and its associated complications.