Peritoneal Dialysis
Nephrology & Hypertension serving Middle Tennessee
When your kidneys can’t remove enough waste to keep you healthy, peritoneal dialysis allows you to safely filter toxins from the comfort of your home. The exceptional team at Southern Kidney Specialists, with offices throughout Middle Tennessee, offers comprehensive care for peritoneal dialysis. They teach you how to do the procedure and provide ongoing support when questions or issues arise. If you’re considering peritoneal dialysis, call the nearest office or use the online booking feature today.
Dialysis is a treatment that takes over for your kidneys when they stop working due to chronic kidney disease, a chronic (long-lasting) condition that causes progressive kidney damage and scarring.
Eventually, the kidneys can’t work properly and stop filtering toxic wastes. As a result, toxins build up in your blood, making you sick and putting your life at risk.
When you reach end-stage kidney disease and need dialysis, you can choose from two types: hemodialysis (through blood vessels) and peritoneal dialysis (through your abdomen).
Before you start peritoneal dialysis, you have a minor procedure to create access to your abdomen. Your provider inserts a flexible catheter and secures it in place. Then you use the catheter to perform peritoneal dialysis.
During peritoneal dialysis, a liquid (dialysate) goes into your abdomen through the catheter. The dialysate stays in your abdomen for a specified time, pulling wastes out of your blood and into the fluid. When you flush out the dialysate, it carries the toxins away.
You repeat the procedure following the schedule recommended by your Southern Kidney Specialists provider.
There are two types of peritoneal dialysis. Both give you the advantage of performing life-saving dialysis at home:
If you use CAPD, you fill your abdomen with dialysate and leave it there for about 30-40 minutes while going about your usual daily routine. The dialysate comes in a plastic bag. After attaching the bag to the catheter, you simply hold the bag up and let the fluid flow into your abdomen.
Most patients need to repeat the procedure 3-5 times every 24 hours (during waking hours). However, your provider gives you a schedule based on your unique needs.
APD, also called continuous cycling peritoneal dialysis, uses a machine to cycle the dialysate through your abdomen while you sleep. You connect the machine to your catheter before going to bed and disconnect it when you wake.
No matter what type of peritoneal dialysis you choose, you can depend on getting all the support you need at Southern Kidney Specialists. The team teaches you how to perform the procedure and is available to answer questions that arise.
To learn more about peritoneal dialysis, call the nearest office or book an appointment online today.