Peritoneal Dialysis Specialist

What is peritoneal dialysis?

Peritoneal dialysis removes waste substances from your blood if you have end-stage renal failure — the final phase of chronic kidney disease. At this point, your kidneys can’t clear waste, which causes life-threatening complications. Dialysis acts as your kidneys to keep you alive.

Traditional dialysis (hemodialysis) requires you to attend a clinic or hospital where your blood passes from your body, through an artificial kidney, and back into your bloodstream. Peritoneal dialysis uses a different approach that makes it possible to self-administer your treatment.

There are several types of peritoneal dialysis, including continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) and continuous cycling peritoneal dialysis (CCPD).

How does peritoneal dialysis work?

The peritoneum (abdominal lining) acts as a filter during peritoneal dialysis. When you're ready to begin a dialysis session, you introduce cleansing fluid into your abdomen through a catheter (flexible plastic pipe).

You leave the fluid there for a specific length of time (your provider at Consultants in Kidney Diseases advises you), then drain it away and discard it.

To prepare for peritoneal dialysis, you undergo a surgical procedure to insert the catheter in your abdomen. After a month or so to heal and be trained in how to perform peritoneal dialysis, you're ready to begin.

What are the advantages of peritoneal dialysis?

Peritoneal dialysis has several advantages over hemodialysis. First, you can do the treatments at home, work, or even while traveling, so you enjoy more independence and greater flexibility. It also saves you the stress of visiting a hospital or clinic several times a week for hemodialysis.

You need to do peritoneal dialysis more frequently than hemodialysis, which means there aren't such high levels of sodium, potassium, and fluid in your blood. As a result, you can enjoy a less-strict diet than you would with hemodialysis.

It's also possible that some patients on peritoneal dialysis could keep their kidneys functioning a little longer than those on hemodialysis.

Am I a good candidate for peritoneal dialysis?

To determine if peritoneal dialysis is right for you, your Consultants in Kidney Diseases provider considers factors such as your kidney function and overall health, your home situation and lifestyle, and your preferences.

Some patients don't make good candidates for peritoneal dialysis. For example, people with a lot of surgical scars in their abdomen and those with conditions like inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis), abdominal hernias, or frequent attacks of diverticulitis.

Peritoneal dialysis is also unsuitable if you lack manual dexterity — for instance, if your hands are affected by arthritis or a neurological condition — unless you have a reliable caregiver.

To find out if peritoneal dialysis is the best choice for you, call Consultants in Kidney Diseases today or book an appointment online.