Home Dialysis---Peritoneal Dialysis for Kidney Failure Patients

Compared with hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis is much simpler and it can be done at home and no special equipment is needed.

Peritoneal dialysis takes advantage of peritoneum to function as semipermeable membrane and through constant change of dialysate, the waste products in the bloodstream pass through the peritoneum into the dialysate so as to achieve the purposes of clearing metabolic wastes and toxins as well as rectifying disorders and imbalances of water and electrolyte.

What are the indications of peritoneal dialysis?

It can be applied to acute and chronic kidney failure, capacity overload, water and electrolyte disorders as well as liver failure and toxic diseases. In recent years, clinic observations have found that peritoneal has the functions of slowing down the decline of remaining kidney functions and improving sexual function and life quality along with the continuous improvements of technology and equipments of peritoneal dialysis.

What are the advantages of peritoneal dialysis?

1. Peritoneal dialysis has more extensive application than hemodialysis. It is simpler and more convenient and will not affect work and sleep. What is more, patients need not to use systemic anti-coagulation medicines and will reduce the risk of bleeding; therefore it is more suitable for those that have bleeding tendency.

2. There is no extracorporeal circulation and hemodynamic change so that hypotension and imbalance syndrome due to the sharp fall of blood volume can be avoided. It is safer for the elderly.

3. It can help preserve remaining kidney functions. It has been proved that the decline rate of kidney functions in peritoneal dialysis is slower than that of hemodialysis.

4. It has better effects on clearing medium molecular substances and alleviating anemia and nerves lesions than hemodialysis.

What are the disadvantages of peritoneal dialysis?

1. Infections. Since the catheter in peritoneal dialysis need to be connected with dialysis bag, there is possibility of catching celiac infections.

2. Weight gain. Since the dialysate use glucose to discharge excessive water, the glucose might be absorbed and this will cause weight gain and increase of triglyceride and other lipids, therefore patients should have proper exercises and reduce the intake of sugars in daily diets.

3. Loss of proteins. During peritoneal dialysis, some proteins and vitamins will be lost, therefore patients need to supply through foods and have proper supply of fish, lean meat, milk and other high-quality proteins. And fruits and vegetables are the best source of vitamins.