Explanation

Dialysis does the filtering job of damaged kidneys - a dialysis machine is like an artificial kidney.

A small needle is put into your arm, and blood passes through this and out of your body into a tube. The tube runs into the dialysis machine, and wastes like urea and creatinine are removed in there. Clean, filtered blood comes out of the other side of the machine and goes back into your body through a different tube and needle. It doesn't hurt and only takes a few hours.

Your nephrologist will decide how often you need dialysis, but it's likely to be two or three times a week. You will most likely have it if you are waiting for a kidney transplant.