• Explore Treatment Options

    • Explore Treatment Options

Over time, kidneys may lose their ability to filter out toxins and extra fluid. If kidney damage is far enough along (kidney failure), treatment is needed to do your kidneys' job.

As you start thinking about treatment, talk with your doctor to decide what is important to you and which option is best for you.

Types of Treatment

There are two types of kidney failure treatments: transplant and dialysis.

A transplant replaces your failed kidney with a healthy one via surgery.

Dialysis (peritoneal dialysis or hemodialysis) does the work of your kidneys to clean and remove extra fluid from your blood.

Treatment Options

Kidney Transplant

Kidney Transplant

What is a kidney transplant?
  • A kidney transplant is a surgery that replaces your failing kidney with a healthy one.
  • It is possible to get a transplant before you lose all kidney function.
  • Getting a transplant requires placement on a wait list and tests to determine if you and the kidney donor are a match.
  • After a transplant, you will need medicines to keep your body from rejecting the new kidney.

You might choose a transplant because:
  • It is the best treatment for kidney failure.
  • It gives you a living kidney that works better than dialysis.
  • A transplant can give you more energy, and more food and beverage options than dialysis.
  • A transplant provides more time and freedom than dialysis.
  • Transplanted kidneys can last 12 to 15 years.
Peritoneal Dialysis (PD)

Peritoneal Dialysis (PD)

What is PD?
  • PD uses the lining of your abdomen (belly) and a cleaning fluid called dialysate to clean your blood. Blood never leaves your body.
  • Dialysate is added to your belly through a tube. When done cleaning, the dialysate is emptied out through the same tube.
  • PD is most commonly prescribed as a daily treatment.

*The prescribing physician will determine the required treatment frequency and duration based on medical necessity.

You might choose PD because:
  • You can be trained to do it at home instead of in a clinic.
  • You may have more food and beverage options.
  • You don’t need to use needles.
  • Your treatment schedule is more flexible than other dialysis choices (potentially making work, activities and travel easier to do). You can even do most of your treatment overnight while you sleep.
  • Home dialysis may help your kidneys work for longer, if you have residual kidney function.
  • Treating every day may give you more energy than other dialysis options.1
Home Hemodialysis (HHD)

Home Hemodialysis (HHD)

What is HHD?
  • HHD is done three to six** times a week and can sometimes be done while you sleep.
  • HHD uses needles to access your blood and a machine to clean and return it to your body.
  • With HHD, you may need a care partner to help you. But you can do it alone if allowed by your doctor.***

**Your kidney doctor will determine the required treatment frequency and duration based on medical necessity. Although HHD is often prescribed with a more frequent schedule, the doctor must evaluate the patient’s clinical needs and consider potential benefits and risks.

***Check with your kidney doctor and dialysis provider for details regarding each treatment option based on your personal needs and requirements.

You might choose HHD because:
  • You and a care partner can be trained can do it at home instead of in a clinic.
  • You may have more food and beverage options.
  • Your treatment schedule is more flexible than other dialysis choices (potentially making work, activities and travel easier to do).
  • Treating more often than in a clinic may give you more energy.****

****While there could be potential quality of life and physiological benefits to more frequent dialysis, there is also risk of an increase in vascular access procedures and hypotension.

In-Center Hemodialysis (ICHD)

In-Center Hemodialysis (ICHD)

What is ICHD?
  • ICHD is done in a clinic with a machine that cleans your blood.
  • Needles are used to access your blood.
  • Treatments are typically in an open room where other patients get dialysis, too.
  • You will get help from staff at a center.

You might choose ICHD because:
  • A trained professional can provide you the treatments in a clinic.
  • You can talk with other dialysis patients.
  • Some clinics also offer nocturnal ICHD, which allows patients to dialyze there overnight.
In-Center Hemodialysis (ICHD)

In-Center Hemodialysis (ICHD)

What is ICHD?
  • ICHD is done in a clinic with a machine that cleans your blood.
  • Needles are used to access your blood.
  • Treatments are typically in an open room where other patients get dialysis, too.
  • You will get help from staff at a center.

You might choose ICHD because:
  • A trained professional can provide you the treatments in a clinic.
  • You can talk with other dialysis patients.
  • Some clinics also offer nocturnal ICHD, which allows patients to dialyze there overnight.
Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Dialysis

Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Dialysis

What is SNF dialysis?
  • A SNF is similar to a nursing home where nurses provide health care under a doctor’s supervision.
  • Home hemodialysis (HHD) or peritoneal dialysis (PD) is given on site.
  • Dialysis staff coordinate with facility nurses to support your entire care plan.

You might choose SNF dialysis because:
  • A professional can give you dialysis in your living space.
  • You are recovering from an illness or injury and need transitional or rehabilitative care.
  • Your dialysis team can more easily coordinate with your other doctors on your care plan.

Interested in finding an onsite SNF dialysis program near you? Click here.

Kidney Transplant

What is a kidney transplant?
  • A kidney transplant is a surgery that replaces your failing kidney with a healthy one.
  • It is possible to get a transplant before you lose all kidney function.
  • Getting a transplant requires placement on a wait list and tests to determine if you and the kidney donor are a match.
  • After a transplant, you will need medicines to keep your body from rejecting the new kidney.

You might choose a transplant because:
  • It is the best treatment for kidney failure.
  • It gives you a living kidney that works better than dialysis.
  • A transplant can give you more energy, and more food and beverage options than dialysis.
  • A transplant provides more time and freedom than dialysis.
  • Transplanted kidneys can last 12 to 15 years.

Peritoneal Dialysis (PD)

What is PD?
  • PD uses the lining of your abdomen (belly) and a cleaning fluid called dialysate to clean your blood. Blood never leaves your body.
  • Dialysate is added to your belly through a tube. When done cleaning, the dialysate is emptied out through the same tube.
  • PD is most commonly prescribed as a daily treatment.

*The prescribing physician will determine the required treatment frequency and duration based on medical necessity.

You might choose PD because:
  • You can be trained to do it at home instead of in a clinic.
  • You may have more food and beverage options.
  • You don’t need to use needles.
  • Your treatment schedule is more flexible than other dialysis choices (potentially making work, activities and travel easier to do). You can even do most of your treatment overnight while you sleep.
  • Home dialysis may help your kidneys work for longer, if you have residual kidney function.
  • Treating every day may give you more energy than other dialysis options.1

Home Hemodialysis (HHD)

What is HHD?
  • HHD is done three to six** times a week and can sometimes be done while you sleep.
  • HHD uses needles to access your blood and a machine to clean and return it to your body.
  • With HHD, you may need a care partner to help you. But you can do it alone if allowed by your doctor.***

**Your kidney doctor will determine the required treatment frequency and duration based on medical necessity. Although HHD is often prescribed with a more frequent schedule, the doctor must evaluate the patient’s clinical needs and consider potential benefits and risks.

***Check with your kidney doctor and dialysis provider for details regarding each treatment option based on your personal needs and requirements.

You might choose HHD because:
  • You and a care partner can be trained can do it at home instead of in a clinic.
  • You may have more food and beverage options.
  • Your treatment schedule is more flexible than other dialysis choices (potentially making work, activities and travel easier to do).
  • Treating more often than in a clinic may give you more energy.****

****While there could be potential quality of life and physiological benefits to more frequent dialysis, there is also risk of an increase in vascular access procedures and hypotension.

In-Center Hemodialysis (ICHD)

What is ICHD?
  • ICHD is done in a clinic with a machine that cleans your blood.
  • Needles are used to access your blood.
  • Treatments are typically in an open room where other patients get dialysis, too.
  • You will get help from staff at a center.

You might choose ICHD because:
  • A trained professional can provide you the treatments in a clinic.
  • You can talk with other dialysis patients.
  • Some clinics also offer nocturnal ICHD, which allows patients to dialyze there overnight.

In-Center Hemodialysis (ICHD)

What is ICHD?
  • ICHD is done in a clinic with a machine that cleans your blood.
  • Needles are used to access your blood.
  • Treatments are typically in an open room where other patients get dialysis, too.
  • You will get help from staff at a center.

You might choose ICHD because:
  • A trained professional can provide you the treatments in a clinic.
  • You can talk with other dialysis patients.
  • Some clinics also offer nocturnal ICHD, which allows patients to dialyze there overnight.

Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Dialysis

What is SNF dialysis?
  • A SNF is similar to a nursing home where nurses provide health care under a doctor’s supervision.
  • Home hemodialysis (HHD) or peritoneal dialysis (PD) is given on site.
  • Dialysis staff coordinate with facility nurses to support your entire care plan.

You might choose SNF dialysis because:
  • A professional can give you dialysis in your living space.
  • You are recovering from an illness or injury and need transitional or rehabilitative care.
  • Your dialysis team can more easily coordinate with your other doctors on your care plan.

Interested in finding an onsite SNF dialysis program near you? Click here.

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Comparing Dialysis Treatments

Use the chart below to compare possible benefits of each type of dialysis. Remember, it’s common for people to change treatments as their lifestyle and health changes. Talk with your doctor and VillageHealth care team to decide on the best option for you.

 

Peritoneal Dialysis

Home Dialysis

In-Center Hemodialysis

Skilled Nursing Facility Dialysis
General
More flexible treatment schedule
Technicians and nurses give you treatment
No needles during treatment
No supplies needed at home
No care partner needed
Time
Fewer visits to dialysis center (monthly vs. 3 days/week) after initial training
You may not need daily treatments. Check with your kidney doctor about frequency.
Shorter recovery after treatment²
Lifestyle
More food and beverage options
Getting to know people at dialysis center
More independence and easier travel
Health
Better sleep³
Better blood pressure control⁴
Better ability to preserve remaining kidney function⁵
Future
Helps body’s condition for transplant success⁶

Palliative Care

Some people do not feel able to continue full dialysis treatment. In this case, patients can receive palliative care. Palliative care provides patients with a lower-intensity dialysis that focuses on quality of life and symptom control. It can be provided at home, an assisted living facility, hospital or specialty facility.


1 Raimann J, et al. The Effect of Increased Frequency of Hemodialysis on Volume-Related Outcomes: A Secondary Analysis of the Frequent Hemodialysis Network Trials. Blood Purif 2016;41:277-286. doi: 10.1159/000441966. 2 Jaber BL, et al. Effect of daily hemodialysis on depressive symptoms and post dialysis recovery time: interim report from the FREEDOM (Following Rehabilitation, Economics and Everyday-Dialysis Outcome Measurements) Study. Am J Kidney Dis. 2010;56(3):531-539. 3 Kotanko, P, et al. Effects of frequent hemodialysis on blood pressure: Results from the randomized frequent hemodialysis network trials. Hemodial Int. 2015 Jul;19(3):386-401. doi: 10.1111/hdi.12255. 4 Finkelstein FO et al. Kidney Int. 2012;82(5):561-9. 5 Preserving Residual Kidney Function: Consider Home Dialysis First 6 PD: Molnar, MZ et al. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 7: 332–341, 2012. HHD: Weinhandl, E et al. J Am Soc Nephrol. 2012 May; 23(5):895–904. PD: Nardelli L, et al. Peritoneal Dialysis for Potential Kidney Transplant Recipients: Pride or Prejudice? Medicina (Kaunas). 2022 Feb 1;58(2):214. doi: 10.3390/medicina58020214. PMID: 35208541; PMCID: PMC8875254. HHD: Molnar, MZ et al. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 7: 332–341, 2012. HHD: Weinhandl, E et al. J Am Soc Nephrol. 2012 May; 23(5):895–904.

Service provider and modality selection are choices made exclusively between the patient and nephrologist. This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.

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