Hyderabad: Home dialysis training for patients with kidney failure is being given at Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS) which is recognised by the International Society of Peritoneal Dialysis. NIMS is the first centre in South India to get this recognition and will be providing training to patients to carry out dialysis at home.
Peritoneal dialysis is a home based dialysis system where the tube is inserted in the lining of the abdomen region by the patient who is trained in this procedure. The soft tube is inserted in the belly and the dialysis solution flows from the bag through the catheter into the belly. Once the bag is empty, the catheter is disconnected from the bag and capped.
Dr Sree Bhushan Raju, head of the department of nephrology at NIMS, explained, “In peritoneal dialysis, the patient does not need to visit the hospital. Patients take one or two months to adjust to the procedure but once they undergo proper training and follow the protocols, it is very easy for them. So far we have 100 patients in the procedure.”
Children, the elderly and visually impaired who cannot travel long distances are supported by this home based system. “It takes two to three months for patients to adjust but once carried out successfully it goes a long way in helping them save on costs and also time. The only aspect that they must be careful of is infection. They are trained to keep minute aspects in mind like during disconnecting the catheter and capping it the hands must be cleaned frequently,” explained Dr Raju.
