Peritoneal Kidney Dialysis

Peritoneal dialysis is a type of Kidney Dialysis Treatment which removes waste products from the blood when kidneys can't adequately do the job any longer. This procedure filters the blood in a different way than does the more common blood-filtering procedure called hemodialysis.

Peritoneal dialysis involves surgery to implant a peritoneal dialysis (PD) catheter into your abdomen. The catheter helps filter your blood through the peritoneum, a membrane in your abdomen. During treatment, a special fluid called dialysate flows into the peritoneum. The dialysate absorbs waste. Once the dialysate draws waste out of the bloodstream, it’s drained from your abdomen.

This process takes a few hours and needs to be repeated 4 to 6 times per day. However, the exchange of fluids can be performed while you’re sleeping or awake.