Procedures

DIALYSIS

The two major forms of dialysis are hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. In hemodialysis, blood is sent through a filter that removes waste products. The clean blood is returned to the body. Hemodialysis is usually performed at a dialysis center three times per week for 3 to 4 hours.

In peritoneal dialysis, a fluid is put into the abdomen. This fluid captures the waste products from the blood. After a few hours, the fluid containing the body's wastes is drained away. Then, a fresh bag of fluid is dripped into the abdomen. Patients can perform peritoneal dialysis themselves. Patients using continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) change fluid four times a day. Another form of peritoneal dialysis, called continuous cycling peritoneal dialysis (CCPD), can be performed at night with a machine that drains and refills the abdomen automatically.