What is the primary function of the dialysis machine during hemodialysis?

The primary function of the dialysis machine during hemodialysis is to filter and clean the blood. Hemodialysis is a process that involves the removal of waste products and excess fluids from the blood, an essential function when the kidneys are not able to perform adequately. The dialysis machine contains a dialyzer, or artificial kidney, that uses a semipermeable membrane to separate blood from a dialysis solution (dialysate).

As the blood flows through the dialyzer, waste products, including urea and creatinine, as well as excess electrolytes, are diffused across the membrane into the dialysate. This process effectively cleans the blood before it is returned to the patient’s body. Thus, the machine acts as a substitute for the filtering function of healthy kidneys, making it crucial for patient care during hemodialysis.

While monitoring vitals is important during treatment for patient safety, and administering medication is part of comprehensive care, these functions are secondary to the primary purpose of the dialysis machine, which is to clean and filter the blood. Providing oxygen is related to respiratory support and is not a function of the dialysis machine.