In this procedure, patients are connected to a dialysis machine which acts as an artificial kidney to remove most of the urea and restore/maintain the water and ion balance of the blood.

Globally, more than 2 million people undergo dialysis each year, and about 550,000 undergo the procedure in the United States. At a dialysis center, medical staff can connect patients to a ...

The Department of Health says dialysis eligibility in public facilities depends on kidney failure severity, life expectancy, and health complications.