When is Dialysis Needed?

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Healthy kidneys filter waste and extra fluid from your blood. When kidneys stop working well—often in advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) or end-stage renal disease (ESRD)—these wastes build up in your body.

Dialysis may be needed if you experience:

• Very low kidney function (usually less than 10–15%).
• Symptoms such as nausea, loss of appetite, swelling, shortness of breath, or confusion, excessive hiccups, muscle cramps, and spasm.
• High potassium, acid, or fluid levels that cannot be controlled with medicine.

Short-term vs. Long-term Dialysis
Some patients only need dialysis for a short time. This usually happens when kidney function is lost suddenly—for example, after a severe infection, certain medications, or other medical conditions. As the kidneys heal and their cells regenerate, function may return, and dialysis can often be stopped.

Other patients need dialysis for the long term. This is more common when kidney function declines slowly over time due to chronic kidney disease. In these cases, the remaining kidney function is no longer enough to support the body’s daily needs, and dialysis becomes a permanent treatment unless a kidney transplant is possible.

Your doctor will monitor your lab results, symptoms, and overall health to decide the best time to begin dialysis

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