Heimhämodialyse - Eine wirkliche Alternative zur Zentrumsdialyse

Home haemodialysis (HHD) is an outstanding alternative for selected patients, who are able to perform the dialysis treatment at their home. Intensive cooperation between the patient and the nephrological team of physicians, nurses and technicians is obligatorily. Indication for HHD is the intention of a medical and psychic stable patient, to perform the dialysis himself without complications and become an integrated part of the therapy. Daily home haemodialysis (DHHD) is performed in patients with high technical understanding using specific equipment. DHHD has consid-erable advantages: the patient can dialyze himself without assistant, the residual renal function is preserved for longer time, and because of that, less fluid and diet restrictions are necessary. Although the blood pressure is better controlled, less antihypertensive drugs are needed and left ventricular hypertrophy is reduced. The number of phosphate binders per day is diminished as well as the dose of erythropoietin. There are no serious problems concerning the vascular access in spite of doubling the number of shunt punctures; high efficacy of dialysis treatment is achieved. The patients report better quality of life. HHD is the best schedule for the optimal social and medical rehabilitation of dialysis patients.