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Why it's done
By Mayo Clinic staffPeritoneal dialysis may be done to manage kidney failure until a kidney transplant is possible. Kidney failure itself usually results from a long-term (chronic) disease that causes kidney damage over a number of years. Common causes of kidney failure include:
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure (hypertension)
- Kidney inflammation (glomerulonephritis)
- Multiple cysts in the kidneys (polycystic kidney disease)
Your doctor can help you decide which type of dialysis will work best for you and when you should start, based on several factors:
- Your overall health
- Your kidney function (as measured by blood and urine tests)
- Your personal preferences
- Your home situation
Peritoneal dialysis may be the better option if:
- You can't tolerate the rapid changes of fluid balance associated with hemodialysis. During hemodialysis, your blood is pumped into a machine to be filtered and then returned to your body.
- You want to minimize the disruption of your daily activities and work or travel more easily.
Peritoneal dialysis might not work for you if:
- You have extensive surgical scars in your abdomen
- You have a large abdominal hernia
- You have a limited ability to care for yourself or lack caregiving support at home
- You have inflammatory bowel disease or frequent bouts of diverticulitis
References
- Peritoneal dialysis: What you need to know. National Kidney Foundation. http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/peritoneal/. Accessed April 16, 2013.
- Papadakis MA, et al. Current Medical Diagnosis & Treatment 2013. 52nd ed. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2013. http://www.accessmedicine.com/resourceTOC.aspx?resourceID=1. Accessed April 16, 2013.
- Chaudhary K, et al. Peritoneal dialysis first: Rationale. Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology. 2011;6:447.
- Longo DL, et al. Harrison's Online. 18th ed. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2012. http://www.accessmedicine.com/resourceTOC.aspx?resourceID=4. Accessed April 16, 2013.
- Post TW, et al. Overview of the management of chronic kidney disease in adults. http://www.uptodate.com/home. Accessed April 16, 2013.
- Lerma EV, et al. Current Diagnosis & Treatment: Nephrology & Hypertension. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2009. http://www.accessmedicine.com/resourceTOC.aspx?resourceID=628. Accessed April 16, 2013.
- Peritoneal dialysis. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/genitourinary_disorders/renal_replacement_therapy/peritoneal_dialysis.html#v1054643. Accessed April 18, 2013.
- Peritoneal dialysis: What you need to know. National Kidney Foundation. http://www.kidney.org/atoz/pdf/peritonealdialysis.pdf. Accessed April 16, 2013.
- Anderson CF (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. April 20, 2013.
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