| | Benefits | Downsides |
| Kidney transplant | - People who get a kidney transplant usually live longer and have a better quality of life than people who are treated with dialysis.
| - A kidney transplant is major surgery.
- It can be hard to find a donor kidney.
- People with certain medical conditions can't have a kidney transplant.
- After surgery, you need to take medicines every day for the rest of your life. These medicines could cause you to get severe infections or cancer.
- After surgery, your body might "reject" your new kidney.
|
| Peritoneal dialysis | - You can do it at home, which gives you more freedom and control over your life.
- It doesn't involve needles.
- You can do it overnight while you sleep.
- You don't need anyone to help you if you learn how to do it yourself.
- You don't need to limit your diet as much as with hemodialysis.
| - It can be hard to learn how to do it.
- It increases the chance that you will get an infection in your belly.
|
| Hemodialysis | - You might have the option of doing it at home, which gives you more freedom and control over your life.
- If you do it in a dialysis center, you don't have to learn to do it yourself, and doctors and nurses can watch you more closely.
- You do it fewer days each week than peritoneal dialysis.
| - If you do it at home, you need to get special training and equipment, and have someone to help you.
- If you do it in a center, you need to travel there and back at least 3 times a week.
- You will have needles put in your arm each time.
- Your access can get infected or stop working.
- During dialysis, you might feel lightheaded or have trouble breathing.
|
