Hemodialysis

Features of our dialysis care

Regular checks of the heart and blood vessels

Heart and blood-vessel disease need careful attention in dialysis patients. Symptoms may not be obvious, so we combine day-to-day clinical assessment with regular tests to check heart function and blood-vessel health.

• EchocardiographyGenerally one to three times a yearUltrasound checks the heart’s movement, size and valves.
• Electrocardiogram (ECG)Once a year if no abnormalities are foundRecords the heart’s electrical activity to check for changes such as irregular rhythms.
• Ankle–brachial index (ABI)Generally once or twice a yearCompares blood pressure at the ankles and arms to assess blood flow in the leg arteries.
• Neck and leg vascular ultrasoundWhen neededUltrasound examines the blood vessels in the neck or legs.

These are our clinic’s usual testing intervals. Timing and frequency are adjusted to symptoms and findings from examinations and tests.

We assess echo findings together with body weight, blood pressure and symptoms when planning fluid removal during dialysis. [1]

Arterial calcification and other factors can make ABI difficult to interpret in dialysis patients. A normal value does not always rule out disease, so we also review symptoms and examine the feet. [2]

These checks help us identify changes early and consider further investigations, treatment or adjustments to dialysis. We take each patient’s heart function and overall condition into account to support stable, ongoing dialysis care.

Please tell the care team about any change in your condition without waiting for the next routine test.

Online hemodiafiltration (HDF)

Online hemodiafiltration (HDF) combines conventional hemodialysis with filtration, aiming to remove waste substances across a broader range of sizes.

JSDT guidelines advise considering HDF for symptoms that persist despite conventional hemodialysis, or low blood pressure during dialysis. Potential benefits include: [3]

• Fewer episodes of low blood pressure during dialysis
• Relief of symptoms such as itching, joint pain, fatigue and poor appetite

Benefits vary between patients and depend on treatment settings. We review blood pressure, symptoms during dialysis, nutrition, blood tests and vascular access to select the treatment method and settings for each patient.

Water and dialysis-fluid quality

Clean water and dialysis fluid are essential to dialysis care. Online HDF uses further-filtered dialysis fluid as replacement fluid, so strict quality management is required. Our clinic carries out regular water-quality checks and cleaning and disinfection of equipment and piping. [4][5]

Dialysis hours and transport

Please contact us in advance to discuss your treatment start time and arrangements.

Dedicated parking and a patient transport service are available. Please contact us to discuss your needs.

Our dialysis room

Our spacious dialysis room is designed to help patients feel comfortable during treatment.

Patient Wi-Fi and video streaming

Patient Wi-Fi is available. Bring your own streaming device, such as a Fire TV Stick, and use your own streaming-service account to watch Amazon Prime Video, YouTube, Netflix or other services during dialysis.

Privacy and private rooms

Partitions in the shared room are long enough to keep neighbouring patients’ faces out of view. Private-room dialysis can also be arranged. Please let us know your preference.

360° dialysis room tour

The tour starts in our third-floor dialysis room. Drag the image to look around the dialysis stations and the room.

Support for everyday life

Experienced staff support everyday life as well as treatment. We value trust with our patients and open communication with their families.

Our team includes staff with the Japanese renal rehabilitation instructor qualification. We support exercise and everyday health management according to each patient’s condition and physical abilities, aiming to maintain or improve physical function and quality of life.

Temporary dialysis for visitors

We welcome enquiries about temporary dialysis during holidays, business trips and visits to family in Miyazaki. Please call in advance with your preferred dates and current dialysis treatment details.

How to enquire

1. Please call the clinic and tell us that you would like to discuss temporary dialysis.
2. We will ask about your preferred dialysis dates, your stay in Miyazaki and your current treatment details. Please also ask what preparations are needed.
3. Let us know if you would like to discuss patient transport or a private room.