Kidneys are vital organs of the body: they remove wastes from the blood, regulate the levels of water and minerals in the body and produce hormones that control other body functions.
In 2006, 14 Canadians per day learned that they were suffering of kidney failure. While 39.5% got a kidney transplant, 60.5% had to rely on dialysis to treat their chronic renal insufficiency. Among the two types of dialysis, 82% of the patients received a hemodialysis treatment. This treatment consists in having the blood of the patient circulated through a machine, which contains a dialyzer (artificial kidney), that cleans the blood before it returns into the bloodstream; usually, three treatments a week are needed.
This documentary tries to convey what it is like to get that five hours-long treatment.
All images copyright ©Mauve Drouin 2006.
All rights reserved.