Portable dialysis machine helps people who have kidney failure

[okarol]

Portable dialysis machine helps people who have kidney failure


PHOTO: Home dialysis patient (IHD MEMBER!) Harvey Wells, who has traveled across the country in his RV thanks to the ability to take his dialysis "on the road" with the NxStage System One, speaks with patients at RAI Fontana about home dialysis.

Published: Thursday, March 24, 2011 1:59 PM CDT
More than 500,000 Americans suffer from kidney failure, a number predicted to increase 60 percent by 2020.

For most, reality is a life on dialysis, with sessions scheduled at a center for four to five hours at a time, three days a week. Many are unable to work, go to school or travel due to the fatigue treatments cause and rigorous schedule.

But more patients are turning to a different treatment option: the first truly portable dialysis machine, which allows patients to do dialysis in the home setting.

With this machine, patients decide when and where to do dialysis and also do it more frequently, which better mimics natural kidney function and provides significant clinical benefits.


On March 10, World Kidney Day, RAI dialysis centers in Fontana, where home dialysis is available to the local community, hosted an open house event for dialysis patients and their families to learn more about this option.

http://www.fontanaheraldnews.com/articles/2011/03/24/news/doc4d8b7e6c1bd36078320341.txt

[MooseMom]

I'd bet that NxStage is going to be getting some competition in the not too distant future.  With so many more people suffering from CKD, the dialysis population is going to rise, and there just won't be enough clnics.  More people will be encouraged to do D at home, and I'm just waiting for more machines to come onto the market.

[willowtreewren]

I have been keeping an eye on NxStage stock. Haven't bought any. 

But I, too predict this is an area ripe for expansion.

Aleta

[texasstyle]

About 20 years ago or so, I knew a women who did dialysis at home. I was in my early 20's at the time and knew nothing about dialysis but I did her sitting on a sofa of the home I was visiting attached to what looked like an IV bag, but with blood it. To be honest I don't remember any type of big apparatus around. How was the home done back then compared to today? Thanks!

[willowtreewren]

Carl's dad did PD at home 20 years ago. He hung bags to do his exchanges 4 times a day. There wasn't a cycler for nocturnal PD at that time that I know of....

As for Home Hemo? it would take more than a bag with blood! 

Boy, TS, you have had plenty of dialysis experience!