You won't believe what is is.
What is Peritoneal Dialysis
There are several types of dialysis treatments to choose from when living with kidney failure. Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is one of the most popular treatments due to its flexibliilty. PD uses the inside lining of your abdomen to filter and remove waste products such as toxins and excess fluid through a catheter. It also corrects electrolyte problems when your kidneys can't adequately do the job any longer.
Why Choose Peritoneal Dialysis
Those living with kidney failure often choose peritoneal dialysis as their dialysis treatment because it is the most flexible option and often performed at night while the patient is sleeping. There is often little down time and the person living with kidney failure can resume somewhat of a normal life.
Downside to Peritoneal Dialysis
In order to perform peritoneal dialysis, you must be okay with living in a somewhat sterile environment. Some people living with kidney failure feel that PD forces you to turn your home into a hospital. Because of this and due to fact that that the kidney patient will be performing their own dialysis treatments at their home, peritoneal dialysis is not for everyone. Complications of Peritoneal Dialysis One of the most common complications of peritoneal dialysis is infection. These infections can be environmental or can come directly from your peritoneal dialysis catheter. Infections can result in loss of your catheter and ability to perform PD. When this happens, you may have undergo another surgery in order to begin a different type of dialysis. Since peritoneal dialysis gives you the most freedom to live a resemblance of a normal life, you must take every precaution and safety measure to avoid infections.
This page contains general medical information. Medical knowledge and practice can change rapidly. Therefore, this page should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice.
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