How does peritoneal dialysis (PD) work?
In PD, you will always have dialysate in your belly, unless you are doing an exchange. During your dwell time, you are free to move around and do your daily activities while the dialysate sits in your belly. Show
What is dialysate?Dialysate is a liquid with sugar in it that pulls fluid and waste from your blood. The dialysate holds on to the waste and fluid and removes them from your body when you do an exchange. How does the catheter get into my belly?Before you start PD, doctors will do a small surgery to put the catheter into your belly. The end of the catheter will come out through your skin, either on your belly or your chest. Usually, you can stay awake during this surgery — doctors will numb the area of your body where they put in the catheter so you do not feel any pain. What are the types of PD?The two most common types of PD are continuous cycler-assisted peritoneal dialysis (CCPD) and continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). Use this table to help you compare the two types of PD:
How can I do PD safely?Doing PD has many benefits, such as going about your daily activities between exchanges and not having to travel to a center for dialysis. To stay healthy and safe while doing PD, keep the following tips in mind. Care for your catheter to prevent infectionAn infection in your belly (called peritonitis) is the most common problem that may happen when doing PD. Infections can happen when bacteria get into your belly around your catheter. Bacteria may also get into your catheter while you connect or disconnect it from your dialysate bags. To help prevent infection:
Your doctor or nurse will teach you how to best care for your catheter. If you notice any signs of infection, call your doctor right away to get treatment. Signs of infection include:
Do PD in a clean, dry spaceChoose a space for doing your exchanges that:
Keep pets out of the roomFor most of us, pets are family. You do not have to find a new home for your pets because you are starting PD. However, you should keep pets out of the room you choose for doing exchanges to make sure it stays as clean as possible. Read this blog post to learn more about pets and peritoneal dialysis. Create a safe storage space for your suppliesStore your PD supplies in a clean, dry space that is easy for you to get to. Make sure children and pets cannot get to your supplies. Supplies are usually delivered to your home once a month. Each delivery might include many large, heavy boxes. If you cannot lift heavy boxes, make sure you have someone to help you on delivery day. How long can I stay on PD?How long you can stay on PD depends on many things, such as your overall health and how well you follow your treatment plan. Many people live on dialysis for years. If your health gets worse while you are on PD, you may have to switch to hemodialysis or get a kidney transplant. Can I continue my usual activities?Probably. PD can offer a lot of flexibility. If you do PD at night, you will have more time for other activities during the day, but there are some limits on what you can do. To keep your catheter area dry and prevent infection, you should avoid swimming or using hot tubs. If those are activities you enjoy, talk to your doctor about a treatment plan that might let you continue those activities. Working while doing PDTo prepare for doing PD at work, talk to your employer to:
Your health and well-being depend on you doing all the exchanges recommended by your doctor. If needed, your social worker may be able to help you work out an agreement with your employer. Traveling while doing PDOne of the benefits of doing PD is being able to travel without having to look for a dialysis center at your destination. Usually, your PD supplies can be shipped to the place where you are staying. Learn more about traveling considerations for people with kidney disease. Is PD or hemodialysis right for me?Hemodialysis is another type of dialysis in which a machine is used to filter waste and extra fluids from your blood. There are many things to consider when deciding which kind of dialysis is right for you, such as:
Talk to your doctor to help you make a treatment plan that works for your life. Learn more about the types of hemodialysis. What are the advantages of peritoneal dialysis?Unlike haemodialysis, an advantage of peritoneal dialysis is that regular visits to a dialysis unit are not required, and it can be carried out at home. There are also fewer restrictions on diet and fluid intake for people having peritoneal dialysis, compared with those having haemodialysis.
What is the purpose of dialysis for a patient with kidney disease?Dialysis is a procedure to remove waste products and excess fluid from the blood when the kidneys stop working properly.
Does peritoneal dialysis preserve kidney function?PD is the preferred renal replacement modality for the preservation of RRF10; in particular, the rate of RRF decline was slower in patients receiving PD than in HD patients11,12. Moreover, PD can slow the decline of RRF compared to the natural slope of RRF decline prior to dialysis initiation13,14.
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