Does hemodialysis hurt?
The most unpleasant part of hemodialysis is the actual insertion of the needles. But over time, it becomes more tolerable and an anesthetic cream or spray can be applied to the skin to help with the discomfort. For patients with a synthetic graft, this discomfort is minimal. How are the needles inserted? There are different methods that can be used for needle placement. • Ladder technique: A “ladder” strategy is when the placement of the needle “climbs up” the entire length of the vascular access area, using a different location each session so that any one location is not weakened by too many needle sticks. • Buttonhole technique: An alternative approach is the “buttonhole” strategy in which a limited number of sites are used but the needle is inserted precisely into the same hole made by the previous needle stick. How is the dialysis procedure performed? The common practice for dialysis is to use two needles; one carries blood to the dialysis machine and the other one to return purif
