Peritoneal dialysis is a method for removing waste materials from your blood when your kidneys are unable to do so.

This therapy filters the blood in a manner that is distinct from hemodialysis, which is a more prevalent kind of blood-filtering treatment.

During the process of peritoneal dialysis, a cleaning solution is introduced into a portion of your abdomen through a catheter and a tube. Your peritoneum, which lines your abdominal cavity, performs the function of a filter. 

It removes waste items from your blood. After a certain amount of time has passed, the fluid that contains the waste materials that have been filtered flows out of your abdomen and is disposed of.

These remedies may be performed anywhere, including at home, the workplace, or even when you are traveling.

However, peritoneal dialysis is not an option for patients who have lost renal function in every circumstance. You require the capacity to care for yourself at home as well as physical dexterity, or you need a dependable caregiver.

• Peritoneal dialysis can be done overnight, allowing daily routines to continue.
• Dextrose in dialysate can lead to weight gain over time.
• Peritoneal dialysis offers more dietary flexibility compared to hemodialysis.
• PET tailors dialysis by measuring waste transfer rates.
• Catheter placement requires a healing period of 1-4 weeks.
• Peritoneal dialysis can be easier on the heart than hemodialysis.
• Avoid non-chlorinated swimming to reduce infection risk.

In hemodialysis, blood is taken from the body, filtered by a machine, and then the filtered blood is reintroduced to the body. 

Even while both hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis are capable of successfully filtering your blood, peritoneal dialysis has a number of advantages over hemodialysis such as:

With this, you have more freedom and flexibility in your way of life. These may be useful if you have a job that requires frequent travel or if you reside a long distance from a hemodialysis facility.

When compared to hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis is performed on a more continuous basis. This results in less buildup of potassium, sodium, and fluid.

Like this, you are able to have a diet that is more adaptable tha the one you might have when undergoing hemodialysis.

For peritoneal dialysis residual renal function lasts for a longer period of time. People who undergo peritoneal dialysis instead of hemodialysis may keep their kidney function for a slightly longer period of time than those who undergo hemodialysis.

Your state of health remains comparatively better in general in this procedure.

This option also gives you a chance to go for your individual interests and choices as your household scenario and your lifestyle etc.

The following are examples of complications that might arise with peritoneal dialysis:

Peritonitis, often known as an infection of the lining of the abdominal cavity, is a frequent consequence of peritoneal dialysis. It is also possible for an infection to manifest at the location where the catheter is introduced into your belly.

The catheter conveys the purifying fluid (dialysate) into and out of your body.

If the individual doing the dialysis has not had sufficient training, there is an increased likelihood of infection.

The risk of infection is increased by activities such as soaking in a bath or hot tub, swimming in a lake, pond, or river, or swimming in a pool that is not chlorinated.

In most situations, taking a shower or swimming in a pool with chlorine is okay.  

Some patients have skin infections around the area where the catheter is placed.

There is also a possibility that you may develop peritonitis, which is an infection that takes place when germs enter the abdomen via the catheter.

There is a possibility that you may feel nausea, vomiting, fever, and stomach discomfort.

If you absorb any of the dialysate, you can end up taking in hundreds of more calories per day. Dextrose, a kind of sugar, is absorbed by your body from the dialysis solution when you are undergoing peritoneal dialysis.

This additional sugar may, over time, cause a person to gain weight. The additional calories may also induce a rise in blood sugar, which is dangerous for diabetics.

Over time, if you use an abdominal catheter and pump fluid into your stomach, this might cause your abdominal muscles to become weaker.

Keeping fluid in your abdominal cavity for an extended length of time may cause muscular tension. You run the risk of getting a hernia.

A hernia may be repaired by surgery performed by your doctor.

After a certain number of years, peritoneal dialysis may no longer be effective. It is possible that you may need to transition to hemodialysis.

In order to place the catheter that runs through your abdomen and brings the dialysate in and out, you have to undergo a surgery process.

The insertion is preferably performed under either local or general anesthesia to avoid any complications. Near your belly button is the typical location for the tube insertion.

After the tube has been placed, your physician will most likely suggest you wait anywhere from one week to one month before beginning peritoneal dialysis treatments. This is done to allow the catheter site time to heal.

As part of the process of peritoneal dialysis:

1. The dialysate is administered into your belly, where it remains for the allotted amount of time (dwell time), which is often between four and six hours.
2. The presence of dextrose in the dialysate assists in the filtration of waste products, chemicals, and excess fluid in the blood via the minute blood arteries that line the inside of the abdominal cavity.
3. At the end of the dwell period, the solution, together with the waste items that were extracted from your blood, drains into a clean collecting bag.
4. An exchange is the term used to describe the process of first filling and then emptying your abdomen. 

There are several approaches to peritoneal dialysis, each of which has a unique exchange pattern. The two primary timetables are as follows:

Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) is done after inserting the dialysate into your abdominal cavity.  You wait the allotted amount of time for it to stay there, and then you drain the fluid.

The fluid travels through the catheter and into and out of your abdomen under the influence of gravity.

During the course of the day, you could need anywhere from three to five exchanges, and while you’re sleeping, you might need one with a longer dwell duration.

You are free to conduct your activities wherever you want, whether it’s at your house or someplace outside. Cleanliness is the only condition that you have to fulfill.

During the time that the dialysate is residing in your abdomen, you are free to go on with your regular activities.

Dialysis done by continuous cycling of the peritoneal cavity (CCPD) is a technique, which is sometimes referred to as automated peritoneal dialysis (APD), involves the use of a machine (automatic cycler) that conducts repeated exchanges while you are asleep at night.

The cycler will automatically pour dialysate into your abdomen, let it remain there for a while, and then drain it into a sterile bag, which you will be responsible for emptying in the morning.

During the night, you will be required to stay connected to the machine for around ten to twelve hours.

During the day, you are not linked to the machine in any way. However, you start one transaction when you begin your day in the morning.

The dwell period for this cycle lasts for the whole of the day.

Because you connect and disengage from the dialysis equipment less often than you do with CAPD, there is a possibility that you will not be as susceptible to developing peritonitis.

To determine the method of exchange that’s best for you, your doctor will consider your medical condition, lifestyle, and personal preferences. It’s possible that your primary care physician may propose some alterations to your program in order to personalize it.

Tests such as the following are likely to be recommended by your physician in order to determine whether or not your dialysis treatment is eliminating an adequate amount of waste products:

During this part of the procedure, samples of your blood and your dialysis solution are compared to one another. The findings provide insight into the rate at which waste poisons move from your blood into the dialysate and reveal whether they move fast or slowly. 

Using this information, your doctor is able to assess if it would be beneficial to your dialysis treatment for the solution to remain in your abdomen for a shorter or longer period of time.

The amount of a specific waste product (urea) that is eliminated from your blood as a result of dialysis may be calculated by first analyzing a sample of your blood and then analyzing a sample of the solution that has been used for dialysis.

Your doctor may also take a sample of your urine to determine the level of urea in it if you are still producing urine after treatment.

If the results of the tests show that your dialysis schedule is not removing enough waste, your doctor may alter your dialysis routine to include the following, depending on the results of tests:

Boost the overall number of transactions.

You need to use a greater quantity of dialysate during each exchange. Make use of a dialysate that contains dextrose in a higher concentration.

Peritoneal dialysis is another way of dialysis that can help maintain your mobility and daily routine in the normal way.

You may lead a normal life with it by following strictly other guidelines from your doctor.

Eating the right foods, including foods low in sodium and phosphorus, can help you achieve better results from your dialysis treatments and improve your overall health. A dietitian can help you develop an individualized meal plan.

Your diet will be based on your weight, your personal preferences, and your remaining kidney function and other medical conditions, such as diabetes or high blood pressure.

Taking your medications as prescribed also is important for getting the best possible results.

While receiving peritoneal dialysis, you’ll likely need medications to control your blood pressure and stimulate the production of red blood cells.

You may require treatments to manage nutrient levels in your blood and prevent the buildup of phosphorus. These medications help address various complications related to kidney function.