What is the primary purpose of a hemodialysis machine?

The primary purpose of a hemodialysis machine is to remove waste products and excess fluid from the blood. In patients with kidney failure or impairment, the kidneys can no longer effectively filter and cleanse the blood. The hemodialysis machine acts as an artificial kidney, using a dialyzer (also known as a dialysis filter) to cleanse the blood of toxins, urea, and other harmful substances that accumulate in the body due to inadequate kidney function.

During the hemodialysis process, blood is drawn from the patient and circulated through the machine, where it is filtered before being returned to the body. This is crucial for maintaining the patient's overall health and preventing complications associated with the buildup of waste products.

While monitoring blood pressure during treatment and administering medication can be part of the overall dialysis care, they do not capture the primary role of the hemodialysis machine, which is fundamentally focused on cleansing the blood. Similarly, delivering nutrients is not a function of hemodialysis; rather, this is a role often managed by the kidneys when they are functioning normally or by dietary management in patients with kidney issues.