About this topic
Peritoneal dialysis, or PD, replaces the work of your kidneys. It removes extra water, wastes, and chemicals from your body when your kidneys are not working normally. This type of dialysis uses the lining of your belly to filter the wastes from your blood. A tube or PD catheter needs to be placed in your belly. About 6 to 12 inches of this tube is left outside the belly. The solution enters your body through the tube. It then drains out through the same tube. The solution that drains out has all the waste in it. � �
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What care is needed at home?
- Ask your doctor what you need to do when you go home. Make sure you ask questions if you do not understand what the doctor says. This way you will know what you need to do.
- Learn about your catheter.
- You will work with a home health nurse after you leave the hospital. The nurse will help you learn how to care for your PD catheter. You will also learn how to exchange the PD fluid. This will be based on what kind of dialysis is ordered for you.
- Keep your supplies for your PD in a clean, dry space.
- Talk to your doctor about how to care for your catheter site. Ask your doctor about:
- When you should change your bandages around your catheter
- When you may take a bath or shower
- If you need to be careful with lifting things over 10 pounds
- When you may go back to your normal activities like work or driving
- Clean your catheter.
- Wash your hands with care before and after you touch the catheter or dressing.
- Hold the catheter during cleaning to avoid accidental pulling.
- Clean the skin on all sides of the catheter every day as your doctor ordered.
- Do not remove any scabs or crusting. The catheter has cuffs or bands of fuzzy Dacron under your skin. Your skin grows over the cuffs to help hold the catheter in place. This also helps to stop infection.
- Your doctor may order an ointment or cream that you need to put on to the catheter exit site when you change the dressing. Use a clean cotton-tip swab to put on the ointment or cream.
- Secure your catheter.
- Make sure your catheter it taped to your belly. Do not let it hang loose or dangle.
- Use tapes and dressings that will let air enter the skin.
- Loop your catheter to make a "C " � shape before putting the dressing on. This will give a little support if you accidentally pull on your catheter.
- Wear loose clothing that will not rub on your catheter.
- Ask your doctor about underwear and belts mostly built for people with peritoneal dialysis catheters.
What follow-up care is needed?
- Your doctor may ask you to make visits to the office to check on your progress. Be sure to keep these visits.
- If you have stitches or staples, you will need to have them taken out. Your doctor will often want to do this in 1 to 2 weeks.
What drugs may be needed?
The doctor may order drugs to: � �
- Help with pain
- Prevent infection
Will physical activity be limited?
- You need to limit your movements when your peritoneal cavity is full. Talk to your doctor about the right amount of activity for you.
- Try not to go to crowded places where your belly can easily be bumped.
What changes to diet are needed?
Your doctor will have you meet with a dietitian. Together you can plan your meals to help you stay healthy. You need to know the salt and potassium content of the foods you eat. Read food labels with care. They will show you how much of each of these is in a serving. This amount is given as a percentage of the total amount you need each day. Reading the labels will help you make healthy food choices. You may need to adjust your eating based on how well your PD treatment is working. � �
What problems could happen?
- Infection
- Bleeding
- Hernia
- High blood sugar levels
When do I need to call the doctor?
- Signs of a very bad reaction. These include bluish skin near the catheter site, redness, and swelling. Go to the ER right away.
- Signs of infection. These include a fever of 100.4 � �F (38 � �C) or higher, chills.
- Signs of wound infection. These include swelling, redness, warmth around the wound; too much pain when touched; yellowish, greenish, or bloody discharge; foul smell coming from the catheter site; catheter site opens up.
- Dialysis solution looks cloudy or bloody
Helpful tips
- Loop your PD tube to make a "C " � shape before putting the dressing on. This will give a little support if you accidentally pull on your tube.
- Wear loose clothing that will not rub on your tube.
- Ask your doctor about underwear and belts made for people with PD tubes.
- Do not warm your PD solution in a microwave.
- Schedule when you need to get supplies so you do run out of them.
Teach Back: Helping You Understand
The Teach Back Method helps you understand the information we are giving you. The idea is simple. After talking with the staff, tell them in your own words what you were just told. This helps to make sure the staff has covered each thing clearly. It also helps to explain things that may have been a bit confusing. Before going home, make sure you are able to do these: � �
- I can tell you about my procedure.
- I can tell you how to care for my dialysis catheter site.
- I can tell you what I will do if I have swelling, redness, or warmth around my catheter site.
Where can I learn more?
Kidney Dialysis Information Centre � �
http://www.kidneydialysis.org.uk/peritoneal-dialysis.htm � �
National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse � �
http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/peritoneal/ � �
National Kidney Foundation � �
http://www.kidney.org/atoz/content/peritoneal.cfm � �
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. � �
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Copyright � � 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. � �