Dialysis and Peritoneal Dialysis

This can either the intermittent peritoneal dialysis up to two or three times intermittently in a patient. This is done after patient gets admitted. The duration of one treatment is usually 24 hours. This used to be done for reversible kidney procedure. Many patients may not require this for more than a few times as they have reversible kidney failure.

The other form of peritoneal dialysis is usually done in patients with chronic kidney diseases and end stage renal failure. This is called continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis. This involves permanent placing of a very flexible peritoneal dialysis catheter inside the peritoneal cavity of the patient. This is usually done under general anaesthesia by a trained surgeon. After this catheter is fixed in the abdomen nearly 2 litres of peritoneal dialysis solution is infused into the abdomen and taken out after 4 hours. During this time of 4 hours waste substances from the blood of patient diffuse into the fluid and reduce the level of waste concentration in the body.

This fluid is removed at the end of 4hrs and fresh fluid is infused. It is repeated three times daily. This can also be done at home in a sterile manner. It will be helpful if another person at home with proper training in this is present to help the patient.