Peritoneal Dialysis

In peritoneal dialysis, a soft tube called a catheter is used to fill your abdomen with a cleansing liquid called dialysis solution. The walls of your abdominal cavity are lined with a membrane called the peritoneum, which allows waste products and extra fluid to pass from your blood into the dialysis solution.

The dialysis solution pulls the wastes and extra fluids into the abdominal cavity. These wastes and fluids then leave your body when the dialysis solution is drained. (The used solution, containing the wastes and extra fluid is thrown away.)

The process of draining and filling is called exchange and takes about 30-40 minutes. The period the dialysis solution is in your abdomen is called dwell time. A typical schedule calls for 4 exchanges a day, each with a dwell time of 4-6 hours. Different typs of peritoneal dialysis have different schedules of daily exchanges.


There are three types of peritoneal dialysis:

  • Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). The most common form, is a continuous treatment that is self-administered and requires no machine.
  • Continuous cyclic peritoneal dialysis (CCPD). An overnight treatment that uses a machine to drain and refill the abdominal cavity. CCPD takes 10-12 hours per session.
  • Intermittent peritoneal dialysis (IPD). This hospital-based treatment is performed several times a week. A machine administers and drains the dialysate solution, and sessions can take up to 24 hours.

Peritoneal diaylsis gives you more control, since you don't have to schedule dialysis sessions at a center. You can give yourself treatments at home, at work, or on trips. But this independence makes it especially important that you work closely with your health care team: your nephrologist (kidney doctor), dialysis nurse, dialysis technician, dietitian and social worker. But the most important members of your health care team are you and your family.

Preventing Problems

Infection is the most common problem for people on peritoneal dialysis. Your health care team will show you how to keep your catheter bacteria-free. You should follow your health care team's instructions carefully. Here are some general rules.

  • Store supplies in a cool, clean, dry place.
  • Inspect each bag of solution for signs of contamination before you use it.
  • Find a clean, dry, well-lit place to perform your exchanges.
  • Wear sterile gloves to perform exchanges.
  • Wash your hands EVERY time you handle your catheter
  • Clean the exit site with antiseptic every day
  • Wear a surgical mask when performing exchanges if you have a cold.

Always keep a close watch for any signs of infection and report them immediately to your doctor. Some of the signs of infection to watch for are: fever, nausea or vomiting, redness or pain around the catheter, unusual color or cloudiness in used dialysis solution, a catheter cuff that has been pushed out. Again, remember to report any of these conditions immediately to your doctor.

It is important that all dialysis patients be viligant about keeping their access sites and catheters clean and infection-free during and between dialysis runs.

 

 

DISCLAIMER: This website offers basic helpful information for people with kidney disease and their caregivers, family and friends. This information should not be used for diagnosing a health problem or disease; visitors should always consult their own physician.