Home Peritoneal Hemodialysis

Houston Kidney Specialists Center - - Nephrology

Nephrology & Internal Medicine located in Cypress and North Houston Area, TX

Nephrology & Internal Medicine & Nephrology located in Willowbrook Office, Houston, TX & Memorial Hermann Cypress, Cypress, TX

Home peritoneal hemodialysis is a treatment option for people with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). With home peritoneal hemodialysis, you use your own body as a dialysis machine. The skilled team at Houston Kidney Specialists Center specializes in ESRD and dialysis treatments, providing many hemodialysis options, including home peritoneal hemodialysis. To learn more, call one of the offices in Houston or Cypress, Texas, or book an appointment online today.

Home Peritoneal Hemodialysis Q & A

What is home peritoneal hemodialysis?

Home peritoneal hemodialysis removes waste from your blood when your kidneys are no longer able to adequately perform this function.

With home peritoneal dialysis, you use the membrane in your belly, the peritoneum, as a filter to clean your blood of toxins, balance electrolytes, buffer acid and remove excess fluid.

Home peritoneal dialysis treats patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), developing from a chronic health condition such as diabetes or high blood pressure. You may also develop ESRD from a long-term kidney disease such as polycystic kidney disease (PKD).

How do I start home peritoneal hemodialysis?

Before starting home peritoneal dialysis, a surgeon first places a peritoneal catheter in your abdomen near your belly button. You use the catheter to fill your peritoneal cavity with a special solution prescribed by your nephrologist at Houston Kidney Specialists Center.

In most cases, patients use their catheters soon after placement. However, before starting home peritoneal dialysis, the team at Houston Kidney Specialists Center provides extensive training for you and your care partner on how to complete your treatments.

Training also includes how to care for your catheter to prevent infection.

What are the types of home peritoneal hemodialysis?

There are two types of home peritoneal dialysis. The team helps you determine the type best suited for you.

Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD)

With CAPD, you fill your peritoneum with the special solution, allow the fluid to dwell or stay, and then drain the solution. Your nephrologist at Houston Kidney Specialists Center determines your CAPD dwell time, which usually lasts about 40 minutes.

You must repeat the process 3-5 times during the day and at night while you sleep. Your nighttime treatment has a longer dwell time.

Automated peritoneal dialysis (APD)

With APD, a machine delivers and drains the solution while you sleep. The team recommends you remain connected to the machine for 10-12 hours.

During the day, you fill your peritoneum with the solution, which then dwells all day.

Home peritoneal hemodialysis is gentle on your body and provides more flexibility. To learn more about your dialysis options, call Houston Kidney Specialists Center, or book an appointment online today.