Dr. Arghya Majumdar
Renal Transplant Physician in Kolkata, India
MD, DNB, MRCP (UK), Higher Specialty Training (Nephrology), UK,
Consultant Nephrologist & Transplant Physician
MD, DNB, MRCP (UK), Higher Specialty Training (Nephrology), UK,
Consultant Nephrologist & Transplant Physician
Peritoneal dialysis is a treatment for kidney failure that uses the lining of your abdomen, or belly, to filter your blood inside your body. Health care providers call this lining the peritoneum. A few weeks before you start peritoneal dialysis, a surgeon places a soft tube, called a catheter, in your belly.
Peritoneal dialysis is a type of dialysis which uses the peritoneum in a person's abdomen as the membrane through which fluid and dissolved substances are exchanged with the blood. It is used to remove excess fluid, correct electrolyte problems, and remove toxins in those with kidney failure.
There are 3 main types of dialysis: in-center hemodialysis, home hemodialysis, and peritoneal dialysis. Each type has pros and cons. It's important to remember that even once you choose a type of dialysis, you always have the option to change, so you don't have to feel "locked in" to any one type of dialysis.
Why do I need peritoneal dialysis? You need treatment because your kidneys no longer clean enough wastes from your blood and remove extra fluid from your body. Even though people with kidney failure may still have some kidney function, it's not enough and without treatment you will die.
During peritoneal dialysis, a cleansing fluid called dialysate passes through a catheter tube into part of the abdomen known as the peritoneal cavity. The dialysate absorbs waste products from blood vessels in the lining of the abdomen, called the peritoneum. Then the fluid is drawn back out of the body and discarded.
The dialysate stays there for about four or five hours before it is drained back into the bag and thrown away. Automated Peritoneal Dialysis (APD): ADP is usually done at home using a special machine called a cycler, which delivers and then drains the cleansing fluid for you.
One of the main disadvantages of peritoneal dialysis is that it needs to be carried out every day, which you may find disruptive. You may also find it upsetting to have a thin tube (catheter) left permanently in your abdomen (tummy), although it can often be concealed under clothing.
Dietitians encourage most people on peritoneal dialysis to eat high-quality protein because it produces less waste, which has to be removed during dialysis. High-quality protein comes from meat, poultry, fish, and eggs.
