Peritoneal dialysis at home
peritoneal dialysis · PD · dialysis at home · home dialysis through the belly
A special solution is run in through a tube in your belly. It takes extra waste from your blood, and then it is drained. You do this yourself at home.
For severe kidney failure, when it is more convenient to be treated at home than to travel to a unit.
⏱ Duration: one solution exchange usually takes 30 to 40 minutes, several times a day; or at night with a machine while you sleep
Be sure to tell your doctor
How to prepare
- Training. Before you start, you and your close ones are trained at the clinic. Do it as you were taught.
- Cleanliness. A separate clean place, closed windows, no pets nearby during an exchange.
- Hands. Before each exchange, wash your hands thoroughly and put on a mask.
- Supplies. Store the solutions as the clinic tells you and watch the expiry date.
What to bring
- Notes of weight, blood pressure and drained volumes - for your visit
- A list of your medicines
How it goes
- You wash your hands, put on a mask and prepare the place
- You connect the warmed bag of solution to the tube
- First you drain the old solution from the belly
- Then you fill in the new one
- You disconnect the system and close the tube with a cap
- You write down the volume and what the drained fluid looks like
What you'll feel
- A feeling of fullness in the belly while the solution is inside
- Cold solution is unpleasant - it must be warmed
- Usually it does not hurt
Afterwards
- Every day check and clean the skin around the tube
- Watch your weight, blood pressure and swelling
- Follow the diet your doctor prescribed
- Come regularly for check-ups at the clinic
Contact a doctor straight away if
- Cloudy fluid when draining - call the clinic right away
- Belly pain, fever, chills
- Pus or redness around the tube
- Severe shortness of breath or chest pain - call your local emergency number
Common questions
Can I work with PD?
Many people do. Exchanges can be fitted to your schedule, or done by a machine at night.
Why is cloudy fluid so important?
It is a common sign of inflammation in the belly. You need to call the clinic right away.