Question 1

Preparing for your dialysis session

Accepted Answer

The Dialysis Ward is an outpatient facility that seeks to provide the best care possible for patients who have kidney disease or kidney failure. Our medical team of doctors, nurses and technicians are highly experienced and trained to ensure the comfort and convenience of every patient at each dialysis station. Dialysis keeps your body in balance by removing waste products, salt and extra fluids from your blood, to prevent them from building up when your kidneys can no longer do this. It also helps in keeping a safe level of certain chemicals in your blood, such as potassium, sodium and bicarbonate and in controlling your blood pressure. At The Aga Khan University Hospital, we offer services for haemodialysis. In haemodialysis, a machine acts as an artificial kidney to remove waste and excess fluids and chemicals from your blood. Before you can begin your first haemodialysis session, you will need to have minor surgery in your arm or leg to make an access (entrance) into your blood vessels. This access site will be used to connect you to the dialysis machine and is the site where blood and fluids will flow in and out of your body. Before coming to the Dialysis Session, You will be asked to restrict the amount of water you drink, depending on your weight. This is to prevent the excess accumulation of fluid in the body. You will be asked to follow a strict nutritional food plan, to prevent the build-up of minerals (including sodium, potassium and phosphorus) in the body. ​

Question 2

What to expect during the dialysis session

Accepted Answer

You will sit or lie on a bed. You will be able to read, use your mobile phone and listen to music or go to sleep. You may feel dizzy or have muscle cramps caused by the rapidly changing blood fluid levels in your body. Each haemodialysis treatment lasts about four hours and may be done three times per week. The time needed for your dialysis depends on: How well your kidneys work How much fluid weight you gain between treatments How much waste you have in your body The size of your body.

Question 3

What to expect after the dialysis session

Accepted Answer

Our medical team at the Hospital will guide you on the care you will need to take at home to prevent issues with changes in blood pressure. You will also be educated on how to take care of the dialysis access site to prevent any possible infections. ​

Question 4

Locations

Accepted Answer

D1 Ward, Main Hospital Building, The Aga Khan University Hospital, Main Hospital Campus, Stadium Road, Karachi 2nd Floor, Jena Bai Hussainali Shariff Building, The Aga Khan University Hospital, Main Hospital Campus, Stadium Road, Karachi Telephone: (+92) 21 3486 4150 (+92) 21 3486 6422