Peritoneal dialysis

Peritoneal dialysis removes waste and excess fluid from blood by circulating dialysis solution through the abdominal cavity and using the peritoneum as a semipermeable membrane.

Peritoneum: A thin membrane lining the abdominal cavity and covering many abdominal organs. Its blood vessels and surface form the exchange membrane in peritoneal dialysis.
Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis: A peritoneal dialysis method using several manual exchanges throughout the day, without a machine. It is the standard manual approach to peritoneal dialysis at home.
Hemodialysis: A dialysis method that passes blood through an external filter to remove wastes and excess fluid. It uses an artificial dialyzer and extracorporeal blood flow instead of the peritoneum.
Peritoneal dialysis-associated peritonitis: Infection and inflammation of the peritoneum occurring during peritoneal dialysis, often linked to contamination. It is a serious complication that can threaten treatment and peritoneal membrane function.
Dialysate: A sterile solution formulated to draw waste and excess water across a dialysis membrane. Its composition creates the gradients that drive solute and fluid removal.
Automated peritoneal dialysis: A peritoneal dialysis method in which a cycler performs exchanges, usually overnight. A machine can concentrate exchanges during sleep and reduce daytime procedures.
Kidney transplantation: Surgery that places a functioning donor kidney into a person with kidney failure. A transplant can replace ongoing dialysis when a suitable donor kidney is available.
Exit-site infection: An infection where a peritoneal dialysis catheter passes through the skin. Care of the catheter exit site helps prevent infection from spreading into the abdomen.
Diffusion: The net movement of particles from a region of higher concentration to one of lower concentration. It moves dissolved waste from blood into dialysate across the peritoneum.
Peritoneal dialysis catheter: A soft tube surgically placed through the abdominal wall to provide access to the peritoneal cavity. Dialysate enters and drains through this access for each exchange.

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