Hemofiltration – Definition, Application & complications!

What is Hemofiltration?

Hemofiltration is a kidney replacement therapy used in an intensive care setting, It is used to treat kidney injuries. During hemofiltration, the blood is passed through a filtration circuit via a machine to the filter where waste products and excess fluids are removed by convection. The replaced fluid is added and the blood is transferred back to the patient.

Kidney replacement therapy is done when the kidneys lose their ability to filter the wastes and balance the fluids. Kidneys are the bean-shaped organs located at your back on either side of your spine. There are three treatments available when a situation like this occurs.

• Hemofiltration
• Kidney transplant
• Dialysis

Difference between Hemofiltration, dialysis, and kidney transplant?

• Dialysis: This is the process in which the blood and dialysate separate on either side during the process.
• Hemofiltration: The blood is carried through a filtration line via a machine to the filter where waste products and excess liquids are removed by convection. It imitates the functioning of the glomerular system.
• Kidney Transplant: This is the process of replacing the existing kidney with the donor’s kidney. It is done at the last stage of kidney failure when the kidney gets damaged.

Don’t get confused between Hemofiltration & Hemodiafiltration!

Hemofiltration: In hemofiltration, the blood is passed through a filtration circuit via a machine to the filter where waste products and excess fluids are removed by convection. It has nothing to do with diffusion.

Hemodiafiltration: Hemodiafiltration is the process of both diffusion and convection. Sometimes it is used in the process of dialysis.

What are the types of ayurvedic treatment for Hemofiltration or kidney replacement therapy?

• Peritoneal dialysis (PD)
• Intermittent hemodialysis (IHD)
• Continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT)

Peritoneal dialysis: It is the process of cleaning your blood using a solution called dialysate.

Intermittent hemodialysis: Hemodialysis is a process of solute clearance based on diffusion across the membrane driven by a concentration gradient between the blood and dialysate.

Continuous renal replacement therapy: CRRT or hemofiltration is intended to apply for 24 hrs a day in an ICU. It is the process of cleaning & filtering the blood with convection.

Application & Complications

Do you know how the hemofiltration is being done at hospitals? No? Well, know here; with this step-by-step guide. Apparently, we ask you not to become doctors on your own after reading this! If you feel like getting it done; then kindly visit your doctor. It’s his job and he knows the best how what and when to do. Moving on:

Preparation

According to the doctors at Karma Ayurveda, the doctors prepare the following:

• A catheter - a soft hollow tube that is needed to be inserted into kidneys for filtration
• A large bore vascular access
• Provided early to ensure the availability
• Conducted on the less dominant arm

Application for Hemofiltration

• Molecules are filtered by the semipermeable membrane; and later transferred back to the body.
• Used to remove the middleweight molecules.
• Replacement fluid is added to the blood to balance the fluids in the blood; because of the loss of a few molecules during the process (effluent).
• Molecules are diffused across the semipermeable membrane and then are removed from the blood.
• It removes low-weight molecules.
• A catheter may or may not be needed for filtration.

Complications in Hemofiltration

• Clotting in blood: After getting hemofiltration done you may feel a bit of abnormality; ding ding! Time to seek a doctor’s advice. You may have clotting in your blood.
• Stenosis: Stenosis is the abnormal narrowing of spaces between muscles, spines, or other parts of the body.
• High blood pressure: You may get caught by the blood pressure problems after getting your hemofiltration done. Usually, patients are seen getting a high blood pressure problem.
• Anxiety: It usually happens with kidney patients. They get anxious about their survival etc.
• Heavy bleeding: You may lose a lot of blood during and after the process of Hemofiltration.
• Edema: Swelling on hands, feet, or other parts of the body.
• Allergic reactions: The process of Hemofiltration may result in allergic reactions.
• Heart problems: The process of Hemofiltration may increase the risks to your cardiovascular health.

Is Hemofiltration a good idea over Ayurveda?

If you ask us, an absolute No! We think Ayurveda is way much better than getting those little needles inside our body and tolerating pain. Ayurveda is painless. It doesn’t require any kind of needle, syringe, or anything like that.

How Karma Ayurveda will help in replacing Hemofiltration?

Karma Ayurveda has brought revolution to the way people look at Ayurveda. Ayurveda is a medical practice succeeding since ancient India. It has a special mention in Indian mythology; it is also believed that allopathy has taken inspiration from Indian mythological books and the practices done during that time.

How Ayurveda will help in replacing Hemofiltration?

As per the guidance of Dr. Puneet Dhawan; Ayurveda can cure any disease. No matter what the stage and chronic the disease is. His beliefs have cured many patients to date and we hope that the count will go higher only. Ayurveda has healing powers and no side effects. During this procedure, you may think that you are not getting better as fast as allopathy does. But we would like to ask you to have patience. Good things take time or should I say good things come to those who wait. Ayurvedic medications are made by using herbs and spices only. Either prepare them at your home or get them in the form of syrups and powder.

A few herbs that will help you avoid situations like hemofiltration are:

• Asparagus
• Celery
• Marshmallow root
• Crataeva nurvala
• Jupiter berries
• Punnaranava
• Dandelion
• Balasamodendron
• Barberries Assistant
• Nettle Leaf
• Honey
• Cranberry

Disclaimer: These are hypothetical theses; kindly consult with your doctor before opting for either of these.