How you prepare
By Mayo Clinic staffBefore you start peritoneal dialysis, you will receive training on what the procedure involves and how to use the equipment. You will need an operation to insert the catheter — the thin, soft plastic tube that carries the dialysis solution in and out of your abdomen. You may receive local or general anesthetics for the insertion procedure. Usually the surgeon places the tube near your bellybutton.
Your doctor will probably recommend waiting at least two weeks before starting treatment so that the catheter site has time to heal.
- Liu KD, et al. Dialysis in the treatment of renal failure. In: Fauci AS, et al. Harrison's Online. 17th ed. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/resourceTOC.aspx?resourceID=4. Accessed Nov. 24, 2010.
- Peritoneal dialysis: What you need to know. National Kidney Foundation. http://www.kidney.org/atoz/content/peritoneal.cfm. Accessed Nov. 24, 2010.
- Treatment methods for kidney failure: Peritoneal dialysis. National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NKUDIC). http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/Kudiseases/pubs/peritoneal/. Accessed Nov. 24, 2010.
- Burkart JM, et al. Choosing a modality for peritoneal dialysis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Nov. 24, 2010.
- Burkart JM, et al. Adequacy of peritoneal dialysis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Nov. 24, 2010.
- Peritoneal dialysis dose and adequacy. National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NKUDIC). http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/Kudiseases/pubs/peritonealdose/. Accessed Nov. 24, 2010.
- Post TW, et al. Overview of the management of chronic kidney disease in adults. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Nov. 24, 2010.
- Gajjar AH. Peritoneal dialysis catheters: Laparoscopic versus traditional placement techniques and outcomes. The American Journal of Surgery. 2007;194:872.

Find Mayo Clinic on