|
Peritoneal Dialysis (PD)
Dialysis is a treatment for kidney failure. It helps to replace the job of the kidneys when they stop working. Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is a type of dialysis.
What is PD?
Who needs PD?
Where can I do PD?
How often do I need PD?
How can I stay healthy on PD?
How will I need to change my diet?
More Information
PD is a way of cleaning wastes and extra fluid from the blood. It uses a special fluid called dialysate (dye-uh-lie-sate) and the lining of your belly.
All of the organs in your belly are inside a special lining called a peritoneum (pair-uh-toe-nee-um). This lining is thin and like a filter. It lets some things through and keeps others out.
For PD, special dialysate fluid is drained into the lining of your belly through a soft flexible tube (called a catheter). While the dialysate is inside your belly, it pulls waste and extra fluid through the lining and out of your blood.
When the dialysate has taken out as much waste and extra fluid as it can, you drain it from your belly. This gets rid of the waste and extra fluid. Then, you put new dialysate in your belly. This is called an exchange. The new dialysate will start taking out more waste and fluid from your blood.
CAPD (Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis)
There are two types of PD. They refer to how the exchange happens. The first kind of PD is called Continuous Ambulatory PD (CAPD). This type of PD uses gravity to help drain and replace the dialysate.
The second kind of PD is called Continuous Cycling PD (CCPD) or Automated PD (APD). This kind of PD uses a machine to help drain and replace the dialysate. This kind of PD may even be used to do exchanges while you sleep.
If your kidneys fail, you will need dialysis or a kidney transplant to live. PD is one kind of dialysis. Another kind of dialysis is hemodialysis. Click here to learn more about hemodialysis.
PD is more common in children, but adults can do PD, too. It lets you have a more normal schedule than hemodialysis. But to do PD, you must be able to do the exchanges yourself.
Talk to your doctor about which kind of treatment is best for you.
You will need to work with a PD nurse at a dialysis center to learn how to do your exchanges. Then, you can begin doing your exchanges at home.
You will need to do PD every day. Your doctor will tell you how often you need to do PD exchanges. Most people need to do about four exchanges each day. Some people will need to do more exchanges than others. Your doctor can also help you figure out when to do your exchanges.
One common problem with PD is the risk of infection (called peritonitis). This can happen when germs get into the catheter. Bad infections can keep you from being able to have the PD treatment you need. To help prevent an infection:
- Keep all of your PD supplies in a clean, dry place.
- Learn the best way to do your exchanges. The staff at your dialysis center can help with this.
- Do all of your exchanges in a clean, dry place.
- Always wash your hands before doing an exchange.
- Wear a surgical mask when you do exchanges.
- Talk to the staff at your dialysis center about any questions you have.
It is best to catch and treat problems early. Tell your doctor right away if:
- You see pink or red area around the catheter
- You have pain around the catheter
- Your catheter shifts or starts to come out
- Any of the clamps on your catheter break
- Your used dialysate looks cloudy
- You have a fever
- You feel very sick or throw up
Dialysis helps to replace the job of the kidneys. It does not work as well as healthy kidneys. Chemicals and fluids can build up over time and cause problems. A kidney friendly diet can help you feel better and avoid other problems.
Order our brochure “Diet Guide for the CAPD Patient” or visit our Recipes for Living Well website for more information about a kidney friendly diet.
American Association of Kidney Patients
http://www.aakp.org/aakp-library/dsp_dialysisCats.cfm?cat=30
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Dialysis Facility Compare
http://www.medicare.gov/Dialysis/Include/DataSection/Questions/SearchCriteria.asp?version=default&browser=Firefox%7C2%7CWinXP&language=English&defaultstatus=0&pagelist=Home
Dialysis Finder
http://www.dialysisfinder.com/
Home Dialysis Central
http://www.homedialysis.org
Kidney School
http://www.kidneyschool.org/splash/toc.shtml
Life Options
http://www.lifeoptions.org
National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse
http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/peritoneal/index.htm
National Kidney Foundation
http://www.kidney.org/atoz/atozItem.cfm?id=97
Updated 2/11/08
Images courtesy of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, www.niddk.nih.gov. | 
