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When a person has lost kidney function and requires dialysis, they
must choose either hemodialysis or peritone al dialysis. Like hemodialysis,
peritoneal dialysis is a procedure that replaces the work of your
kidneys, removing extra water, wastes, and chemicals from your body.
This type of dialysis uses the lining of your abdomen to filter
your blood. This lining is called the peritoneal membrane.
A cleansing solution, called dialysate, travels through a special
tube into your abdomen. Fluid, wastes, and chemicals pass from tiny
blood vessels in the peritoneal membrane into the dialysate. After
several hours, the dialysate gets drained from your abdomen, taking
the wastes from your blood with it. Then you fill your abdomen with
fresh dialysate and the cleaning process begins again.
Before your first treatment, a surgeon places a small, soft tube
called a catheter into your abdomen. This catheter always stays
there. It helps transport the dialysate to and from your peritoneal
membrane.
There are three types of peritoneal dialysis: Continuous Ambulatory
Peritoneal Dialysis (CAPD) is the most common type of peritoneal
dialysis. It needs no machine. It can be done in any clean, well-lit
place. With CAPD, your blood is always being cleaned. The dialysate
passes from a plastic bag through the catheter and into your abdomen.
The dialysate stays in your abdomen with the catheter sealed. After
several hours, you drain the solution back into the bag. Then you
refill your abdomen with fresh solution through the same catheter
and the cleaning process begins again.
Continuous Cyclic Peritoneal Dialysis (CCPD) is like CAPD except
that a machine, which connects to your catheter, automatically fills
and drains the dialysate from your abdomen. The machine does this
at night while you sleep.
Intermittent Peritoneal Dialysis (IPD) uses the same type of machine
as CCPD to add and drain the dialysate. IPD can be done at home,
but it's usually done in the hospital. IPD treatments take longer
than CCPD.
CAPD is a form of self-treatment. It needs no machine and no partner.
However, with IPD and CCPD, you need a machine and the help of a
partner (family member, friend, or health professional).
With CAPD, the dialysate stays in your abdomen for about 4 to 6
hours. The process of draining the dialysate and replacing fresh
solution takes 30 to 40 minutes. Most people change the solution
four times a day. With CCPD, treatments last from 10 to 12 hours
every night. With IPD, treatments are done several times a week,
for a total of 36 to 42 hours per week. Sessions may last up to
24 hours.
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