Healthy kidneys are able to filter toxins from one's blood and remove excess fluid from one's body. Kidney dialysis is a process that performs the work of kidneys that cannot function normally. During the process of hemodialysis, blood from the patient's body is run through a dialysis cartridge through very thin hollow fibers made of a semi- permeable membrane. Waste and water travel from the blood, through the pores of the membrane, and into a fluid called dialysate. We attempt to model the velocities and pressures of blood plasma and dialysate in a dialysis cartridge, as well as to model the concentration of blood cells. We find that varying the pressure in the dialysate moves the location at which the maximum blood cell concentration occurs. We also find that the maximum blood cell concentration is directly proportional to the product of the blood cell Peclet number and the permeability of the membrane.

Background It is estimated that up to 50% of individuals begin dialysis with a suboptimal start. Objective To explore the transition to home dialysis, with a special emphasis on this transition after a suboptimal start. Methods A two-phased mixed methods study including: 1) a scoping review and meta-synthesis on the facilitators and barriers to home dialysis and 2) a qualitative study using thematic analysis on the transition to home dialysis after a suboptimal start. Findings 12 studies were included in the scoping review. Principle facilitators and barriers included Support, Burden of Care, and Disruption of Life. Six individuals were included into the qualitative phase. Through their interviews, they expressed the importance of the timely delivery of information, support, living with loss, managing fear, living with hope, and learning to live with dialysis. Conclusions The facilitators and barriers to home dialysis were similar in both studies suggesting that the transition to home dialysis is similar regardless of the nature of dialysis start. Several subthemes obtained from the qualitative study however revealed that a suboptimal dialysis start entails unique challenges, requiring the delivery of more support and education.

No description available.

Thesis (M. Med. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 50-53)

Thesis (M.S.)--Worcester Polytechnic Institute. / Keywords: hemodialysate; urea. Includes bibliographical references (p. 122-128).

Thesis (M.S.)--Catholic University of America. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M. Sc.)--University of Michigan. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M. Phil.)--University of Hong Kong, 1983.

Thesis (M.Phil.)--University of Hong Kong, 1983. / Also available in print.

Survival data was obtained from a regional dialysis clinic. The data was divided into two groups, diabetic and non-diabetic. This data was compared to see if the survival rates of the two groups differed significantly. They were compared using the life-table, Kaplan-Meier and proportional hazards methods. Also a parametric comparison based on the Weibull distribution, was performed. The data of the diabetic patients was further split into adult-onset and juvenile-onset diabetes. These groups were compared using the three non-parametric methods and were found not to be significantly different. Thus the two types of diabetics could be treated as one group when comparing diabetics and non-diabetics. It was found that the non-diabetics had a significantly higher survival rate than the diabetics. The cofactors that were found to influence survival in an adverse way were the presence of diabetes and the age at initial dialysis. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)