Dialysis fluid and the lining of your abdomen work together to remove waste and extra water.
Learn moreA soft tube called a catheter is placed into the abdomen. Special dialysis fluid passes through the catheter and rests inside the abdomen for a set time.
The abdominal lining acts as a natural filter. The dialysis fluid containing waste products and extra water is then drained and replaced with fresh fluid; this cycle is called an exchange.
Fresh dialysis fluid flows into the abdomen. During the dwell, waste and extra water move from blood vessels in the peritoneal lining into the fluid. The dialysis fluid containing waste products and extra water then drains into a separate bag.
Both use the same abdominal catheter. The main difference is how the dialysis fluid is exchanged—either manually by you or automatically using a programmed machine.
The patient or a trained caregiver connects the bags and completes each fluid exchange manually. No machine is used.
A cycler machine automatically fills, rests, and drains the fluid using settings prescribed by the dialysis team.
Your dialysis team will prescribe the timing and method used in your local programme.
A soft tube is placed into the abdomen before treatment begins.
Fresh dialysis fluid flows through the catheter into the abdomen.
The fluid remains for a set time while waste and extra water move into it.
The dialysis fluid containing waste products and extra water drains out, and a fresh exchange begins as prescribed.
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With CAPD, the patient or a trained caregiver performs each fluid exchange by hand. With APD, a programmed cycler machine performs repeated exchanges over several hours. Both use the same abdominal catheter.
Because PD is performed at home, it may reduce frequent travel to a dialysis centre and offer more flexibility for work, study, family life, and other activities. For some people, the treatment schedule can be planned around their daily routine. Whether PD is suitable depends on your health, physical ability, home circumstances, and the services available locally.
A PD nurse will guide you, and a family member or caregiver if needed, one step at a time. You will learn how to care for your catheter and perform your dialysis safely, with plenty of time to practise and ask questions. The training is tailored to your needs, and you will only begin doing it independently when you feel confident and ready.
They can hear the same explanation, remember important details, and understand the plan with you.
