Prof. Dr. Emel Akoğlu
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- 57+years exp.
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Kidney & Bladder
Dialysis
What dialysis is and how haemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis replace kidney function, who needs them, how temporary dialysis while travelling is arranged, approximate session costs in Turkey against the UK, US and Germany, what a session feels like, the risks, how dialysis compares with a kidney transplant and what a dialysis unit abroad should confirm in writing.
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Prof. Dr. Zerrin Biçik Bahçebaşı
UrologyVerified
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Dialysis in Turkey: what it is and how it works
Dialysis is a treatment that does part of the work of the kidneys when they can no longer clean the blood well enough. Healthy kidneys remove waste products, extra fluid and excess salts such as potassium. When kidney function falls to a very low level, these build up and cause tiredness, swelling, breathlessness and eventually danger to the heart. Dialysis removes them artificially. There are two main types. In haemodialysis your blood is passed through a machine with a filter (the dialyser) and returned to the body. In peritoneal dialysis a cleaning fluid is placed in the abdomen and the lining of the belly (the peritoneum) acts as the filter.
Dialysis in Turkey is available in hospital dialysis units and private centres, and most travellers who ask about it are existing patients who need sessions while away from home. This guide explains the two methods, who needs them, how to arrange sessions abroad, approximate costs compared with the UK, US and Germany, and what to check. Dialysis is a long-term treatment rather than a one-off procedure, and it is not an alternative to a kidney specialist's care. For related services see urology treatments in Turkey.
Haemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis: which is used when?
The choice is made by your kidney team according to your health, home situation and preference.
| Option | Best suited to | Typical limits |
|---|---|---|
| Haemodialysis (in a unit) | Most patients; also people who cannot manage treatment at home | Three sessions a week of about four hours; fixed schedule; needs a fistula, graft or catheter |
| Peritoneal dialysis | People who prefer home treatment and flexible timing; often those with some remaining kidney function | Needs a catheter in the abdomen, hygiene routine, and risk of peritonitis |
| Kidney transplant | Suitable patients who want to stop dialysis | Needs a donor and lifelong anti-rejection medicines; see kidney transplant |
Travelling patients usually continue the method they already use. Most holiday arrangements abroad are haemodialysis, because a unit can slot in a few sessions; peritoneal dialysis patients often take their own supplies.
Who needs dialysis?
Dialysis is used for acute kidney injury, when the kidneys stop working suddenly and may recover, and for chronic kidney failure (end-stage kidney disease), when function has fallen to roughly 10 to 15 percent or lower and symptoms or blood results show that the body is no longer coping. Causes include diabetes, high blood pressure, glomerulonephritis, polycystic kidney disease and long-standing blockage such as untreated kidney stones; if stones are the issue see our guide to kidney stone removal. Decisions on starting dialysis are made by a nephrologist. If you are a new patient asking about dialysis abroad, the first step is a nephrology review, not a booking.
Can you have dialysis while travelling in Turkey?
Yes, for established patients, it is routinely arranged, usually called temporary or holiday dialysis. A dialysis unit in Turkey agrees to provide sessions for your stay, often on the same pattern as at home. To arrange it, your own unit usually supplies a recent summary: diagnosis, dry weight, dialysis prescription, blood-borne virus results (hepatitis B, C and HIV), access type, medicines and recent blood tests. The receiving unit then confirms a chair, days and times. Allow several weeks, because units can be full in the summer. Do not travel without a confirmed booking in writing, and carry spare supplies, medicines and a copy of your record. Patients with unstable health, recent hospital admissions or complicated access should talk to their own kidney team before planning any trip.
How much does dialysis cost in Turkey?
Costs depend heavily on whether you are paying privately, the type of unit and whether supplies and medicines are included. The figures below are approximate ranges per haemodialysis session for a self-paying traveller, not quotes.
| Country | Approximate cost per session |
|---|---|
| Turkey | €60 – €200 |
| United Kingdom | €180 – €400 |
| United States | €250 – €800 |
| Germany | €150 – €350 |
What changes the price: private hospital against dialysis centre, single-use or reusable dialyser, medicines such as erythropoietin and iron that may be charged separately, virus-positive isolation, and whether the quote includes the nephrologist's review. A weekly schedule means three sessions, so ask for the total for your whole stay. Check whether the unit accepts your travel or health insurance; most travellers pay and claim afterwards.
What happens during a haemodialysis session?
You are weighed, your blood pressure is checked and two needles (or one catheter) connect you to the machine through your fistula, graft or tunnelled line. Blood flows through the dialyser, where waste products and extra fluid are removed, and returns to you. A session lasts about four hours, during which you can read, watch a screen or sleep. Nurses watch your blood pressure and the fluid removed. Afterwards the needles come out, the sites are pressed until they stop bleeding, and you are weighed again. Some people feel tired, light-headed or have cramps afterwards; this usually passes within hours.
What does dialysis feel like, and how do you recover afterwards?
Dialysis is not a one-time operation with a recovery period; it is a repeated treatment, and people differ in how they feel between sessions. Common effects are fatigue, low blood pressure during the session, muscle cramps, headache and itching. Needle insertion is the most uncomfortable moment, and a numbing cream can be used. Day to day the main rules are to follow your fluid, salt, potassium and phosphate limits, which can be harder when eating out while travelling. Ask the unit for guidance on food in Turkey and avoid heavy exertion on the day of a session. Report breathlessness, chest pain, fever or redness at the access site immediately.
If you travel with a fistula, protect the arm: do not carry heavy bags on it, do not let anyone take blood pressure or blood from it and feel the "buzz" of the fistula daily. Keep your medicine list and a letter from your kidney team in your hand luggage. Hot weather increases thirst and fluid gain between sessions, so plan how you will keep within your fluid allowance, and eat the salty, potassium-rich foods that are common in holiday menus with care. A dietitian at the receiving unit can often advise on local dishes.
Risks and complications of dialysis
Dialysis is life-saving but not free of risk. In haemodialysis, low blood pressure, cramps, infection of the access, clotting or narrowing of the fistula and bleeding at needle sites are the main problems. Bloodborne infection is prevented by strict unit procedures and screening. In peritoneal dialysis the main risk is peritonitis, an infection of the abdominal lining, which causes cloudy fluid and pain and needs prompt treatment. Long-term dialysis is also associated with heart disease, bone and mineral problems and anaemia, which your kidney team monitors. The NHS Kidney Care service and the National Kidney Foundation both advise continuing under a specialist team and keeping all scheduled blood tests.
How to choose a dialysis unit abroad, and red flags
Look for a unit attached to a licensed hospital or recognised dialysis centre, led by a nephrologist, with clear infection-control procedures, separate arrangements for hepatitis B or C positive patients, and a doctor available during sessions. They should ask for your medical summary before accepting you. Red flags include a unit that accepts you without records, no written confirmation of days and times, no named nephrologist, vague pricing, and no emergency link to a hospital if you become unwell. Read how our process works and use the free quote page to ask for availability and price.
Questions to ask the dialysis unit:
- Which records and blood tests do you need, and how soon before arrival?
- Is the price per session, and are medicines and the doctor's review included?
- How do you handle hepatitis B or C positive patients?
- Can you work with my access type (fistula, graft or catheter)?
- What happens if I become unwell during or after a session?
- Will I receive a written report of each session for my home unit?
Hospitals with Urology in Turkey
Frequently asked questions
Dialysis is a treatment that replaces part of the kidneys' work by removing waste products and extra fluid from the blood. The two main types are haemodialysis, using a machine, and peritoneal dialysis, using the lining of the abdomen.
Established patients can usually arrange temporary sessions at a dialysis unit in Turkey. The unit needs your recent medical summary and blood-borne virus results, and you should confirm the dates and times in writing well beforehand.
A private haemodialysis session often costs roughly €60 to €200 in Turkey, against about €180 to €400 in the UK. The price depends on the unit and what is included, so ask for a written quote for your whole stay.
A standard haemodialysis session lasts about four hours, usually three times a week. Peritoneal dialysis exchanges are done several times a day by hand or overnight with a machine.
The needle insertion at a fistula or graft can sting, and numbing cream may help. The session itself is not usually painful, but cramps, low blood pressure and tiredness can occur and the nurses will manage them.
Haemodialysis filters blood through a machine, usually in a unit. Peritoneal dialysis uses fluid in the abdomen as a filter and is often done at home. Your kidney team recommends one according to your health and circumstances.
Dialysis for acute kidney injury may stop if the kidneys recover. In end-stage kidney disease it continues unless you have a successful kidney transplant or choose conservative care with your doctors.
It can be, in a licensed unit with strict infection control and a nephrologist on call. Check the unit's practices, bring full records and make sure it can act quickly if you become unwell.
A transplant can give a better quality of life for suitable patients but needs a donor and lifelong medicines, and not everyone is eligible. Your kidney team assesses which option is right for you.
The stay depends on your reason for travelling. For holiday dialysis, you need a session on your usual schedule, typically three a week, so ask the unit to confirm all dates for your stay.
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