Hemodialysis is a method for removing waste and excess fluid from the blood when the kidneys fail. It involves connecting the patient's blood to a dialysis machine via vascular access so the blood can circulate through a dialyzer. Common side effects include low blood pressure and headaches due to fluid removal. Long term risks include infection, bleeding, and heart disease. Access points can be catheters, arteriovenous fistulas, or synthetic grafts. Hemodialysis has evolved significantly since its development in the 1940s to become a viable treatment for chronic kidney disease.