Peritoneal Dialysis

Peritoneal Dialysis

Peritoneal Dialysis

Peritoneal dialysis is another form of dialysis. Peritoneal dialysis is done by using a person's
abdomen lining. A fluid called dialysate is
placed into the abdomen by a tube. Waste
from your blood is absorbed into the fluid.

Before Peritoneal dialysis can start a tube called a catheter has to be placed in the abdomen. The catheter is called a Tenckhoff catheter. Placement of the catheter requires a surgical procedure and will require you to go to the hospital. The catheter is very soft and flexible.

The walls of your abdomen are lined with a membrane called the peritoneum membrane. Once the dialysate is placed into the
Tenckhoff catheter it sits in the peritoneum. The fluid collects the
wastes from your blood as it circulates in the peritoneum. The
waste will leave your body once the fluid is drained.

There are two basic types of Peritoneal
dialysis. They are:

Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis or CAPD

With CAPD there is no type of machine needed. The
individual will instill a large bag of dialysate into their
abdomen. After waiting several hours for the fluid to absorb
the waste, usually 4 to 6 hours, the fluid is drained and
immediately replaced with another bag. The fluid remains in
the abdomen as the individual continues normal activities.

Continuous Cycler-Assisted Peritoneal Dialysis or CCPD

With CCPD a machine is used to assist in the dialysis
procedure. The individual is connected to the machine by the Tenckhoff catheter at night while they sleep. The machine will
fill and drain the abdomen several times during the night. In
the morning at the end of the machine cycle the individual is
filled with dialysate that will stay in the abdomen all day.

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Complications of Peritoneal Dialysis

The most common complication with Peritoneal Dialysis is infection. The infection can be local at the insertion site of the catheter or it can be internal. Great care must be taken to
follow procedure as the individual is taught to prevent infection. ALWAYS WASH YOUR HANDS!

Report any signs of infection to your physician. To include,
fever, nausea, vomiting, redness at site and unusual color of drained dialysate.