Mayo Clinic offers dialysis care for people with advanced kidney disease. Dialysis is a treatment that cleans waste and extra fluid from the blood when the kidneys can no longer do it on their own. It also keeps minerals, such as potassium and sodium, at safe levels and helps control blood pressure.
At Mayo Clinic, your care team works closely with you to create a treatment plan that fits your needs and lifestyle. You'll get guidance every step of the way to help you feel prepared and supported throughout your treatment.
Your dialysis care team may include:
- Kidney doctors (nephrologists).
- Nurse practitioners or physician assistants.
- Dialysis nurses.
- Dialysis technicians.
- Social workers.
- Dietitians.
Dialysis services are available at Mayo Clinic locations in Florida and Minnesota, and in many communities in Minnesota and Wisconsin through Mayo Clinic Health System. In Arizona, Mayo Clinic partners with local dialysis providers to coordinate your care.
Three types of dialysis care are offered:
- Home dialysis — Treatments at home with training and support.
- In-center dialysis — Hemodialysis treatments in a dedicated dialysis unit.
- Short-term dialysis while traveling — Temporary care if you're visiting a Mayo Clinic community.
Home dialysis
Many people choose dialysis at home because it's more convenient. You can fit your treatments into your daily schedule, which may help you feel more in control. At home, you can do dialysis more often, which helps keep waste and fluid from building up between treatments. Mayo Clinic provides complete training to help you feel confident and comfortable doing dialysis at home.
Explore Mayo Clinic outpatient and home dialysis services locations (PDF)
Benefits of home dialysis may include:
- Flexibility for daily life. Schedule dialysis around your work, school, family and hobbies.
- Fewer clinic trips. Save time and reduce travel costs by doing dialysis at home.
- Lower health risks. Home dialysis can help keep fluids and electrolytes in balance, which may lower the chance of hospital stays and emergency room visits.
- Independence. Travel with your dialysis supplies and plan treatments when and where it works best for you.
- Fewer diet restrictions. Better control of fluid and waste levels may mean you have fewer limits on what you can eat and drink.
Types of home dialysis
Mayo Clinic offers two types of home dialysis:
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Peritoneal dialysis. With this method, the lining of the stomach acts as a natural filter. A soft tube, called a catheter, is placed in your abdomen. Dialysis fluid flows through the tube, soaks up waste and extra fluid, and then drains out. Treatments can be done every day.
Training usually starts 2 to 4 weeks after catheter placement and lasts about 10 days. You'll work closely with a home dialysis nurse for several hours a day.
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Hemodialysis. With this method, a machine cleans your blood. It removes waste and extra fluid, then returns the cleaned blood to the body. To do this, your care team needs a way to reach your blood. A small opening is created — usually in the arm — called a vascular access. Treatments can be done up to six times a week.
A helper is recommended to manage hemodialysis treatments safely at home. Training for you and your helper starts after the vascular access has healed and typically lasts about 4 weeks.
A kidney specialist oversees your care, and a dialysis nurse guides you step-by-step through the training process. Ongoing support continues after training — your team checks in regularly and is available for questions.
Learn about home dialysis (PDF)
Learn more about home peritoneal dialysis (PDF)
In-center outpatient hemodialysis
With in-center hemodialysis, you receive your treatments at a dedicated dialysis unit staffed by professionals who specialize in dialysis care. A kidney doctor oversees your treatment and works closely with your team to support your health. Most people come two to three times a week, and each treatment usually lasts 4 to 5 hours.
During your visit, your care team:
- Connects you to the hemodialysis machine.
- Monitors you during treatment.
- Makes sure your treatment starts and ends safely.
Your team meets with you about once a month. They review your progress and talk with you about your care needs.
Hemodialysis vascular access
If you need long-term hemodialysis, your care team needs a way to access your blood. This is done by creating a small opening, called a vascular access, which lets blood flow from your body to the dialysis machine and back.
There are three main access types:
- Arteriovenous (AV) fistula. A surgeon creates a connection between an artery and a vein, usually in the arm. A fistula needs several weeks to months to heal before it is ready to use.
- AV graft. A surgeon places a soft tube under the skin, typically in the arm, to link an artery with a vein. A graft also needs several weeks to months to heal before it can be used.
- Central venous catheter. A flexible tube is placed in a large vein, often in the neck. A catheter usually can be used right away. Sometimes it is placed for a short time until a fistula or graft is ready.
The type of vascular access that’s right for you depends on your individual needs. Your kidney specialist works closely with experts in vascular surgery and interventional radiology to plan and manage your access safely and effectively.
During your dialysis treatments, your care team checks the access often to make sure it is working well and to help prevent blood clots, infection or other problems.
Short-term outpatient dialysis for travelers
Mayo Clinic offers short-term in-center dialysis for people visiting a Mayo Clinic community or receiving care at Mayo Clinic. Before your first treatment, the team reviews your current dialysis plan and medical history to confirm your treatment details.
To request short-term dialysis, call the Mayo Clinic Outpatient Dialysis Center in Jacksonville, Florida, at 904-956-2020 or the Mayo Clinic Department of Nephrology and Hypertension in Rochester, Minnesota, at 507-538-3270.
Be prepared to provide the following information about the person receiving dialysis:
- Name and date of birth.
- Dates you expect to be at a Mayo Clinic dialysis center.
- Cause of advanced kidney disease.
- Current dialysis treatment orders.
- Type of vascular access.
- Known allergies.
- Overall medical stability.
- Infection precaution measures.
- Other important health problems.
- Recent health history.
Your dialysis care team
At Mayo Clinic, dialysis care is provided by a team of experts who work closely together to support you and your family. Each team member plays an important role in your care:
- Kidney doctors, nurse practitioners and physician assistants. These professionals focus on your kidney health and overall medical care. They visit the dialysis unit regularly to review your health and test results. They also work with you and the rest of the team to create a care plan that fits your needs.
- Dialysis nurses. Nurses provide your dialysis treatments, teach you about kidney disease and dialysis, and support you during each visit. They also train people who choose to do dialysis at home.
- Patient care technicians. These team members help with dialysis access and check the equipment during treatment to help keep you safe.
- Renal dietitians. These dietitians trained in kidney (renal) conditions help you understand what to eat and drink to protect your kidneys. They offer guidance on how to manage protein, fluids, sodium, potassium and phosphorus in your diet.
- Social workers. Social workers help you cope with the challenges of living with kidney disease. They can assist with financial concerns, connect you to community resources, and help plan for services such as rehabilitation or job retraining.
- Dialysis technical staff. Technical staff make sure your dialysis equipment works safely and help arrange supplies needed for home dialysis.
Mayo Clinic's team approach means your care is coordinated and focused on your needs. Your team works together to help you manage your kidney disease and support your quality of life.