Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is a treatment for patients

with severe chronic kidney failure. The process uses the

patient's peritoneum in the abdomen as a membrane
across which fluids and dissolved substances (electrolytes,
urea, glucose, albumin and other small molecules) are
exchanged from the blood. Fluid is introduced through a
permanent tube in the abdomen and flushed out either
every night while the patient sleeps (automatic peritoneal
dialysis) or via regular exchanges throughout the day
(continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis). P D is used as an alternative to
hemodialysis though it is far less common. It has comparable risks and expenses,
with the primary advantage being the ability to undertake treatment without
visiting a medical facility. The primary complication with PD is a risk of infection due
to the presence of a permanent tube in the abdomen.

Three Types of Peritoneal Dialysis

Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal

Dialysis (CAPD)
If you choose CAPD, you’ll drain a fresh bag of dialysis
solution into your abdomen. After 4 to 6 or more hours of
dwell time, you’ll drain the solution, which now contains
wastes, into the bag. You then repeat the cycle with a
fresh bag of solution. You don’t need a machine for CAPD;
all you need is gravity to fill and empty your abdomen.
Your doctor will prescribe the number of exchanges you’ll
need, typically three or four exchanges during the day and one evening
exchange with a long overnight dwell time while you sleep.

Continuous Cycler-Assisted Peritoneal Dialysis (CCPD)

CCPD uses an automated cycler to perform three to five exchanges during the
night while you sleep. In the morning, you begin one exchange with a dwell time
that lasts the entire day.

Intermittent Peritoneal Dialysis (IPD)

Intermittent peritoneal dialysis (IPD) is an old PD modality applied for as long as 40
h per week using high volumes of PD fluid, but it has almost been abandoned due to
its low solute clearances. However, IPD might be the only option for elderly dialysis
patients with significant co morbidities, unable to undergo haemodialysis (HD) or PD
at home without any assistance, for various reasons.