Dialysis — also called renal replacement therapy — cleans and filters waste from your blood, doing the job of your kidneys when they no longer work properly.
Peritoneal dialysis is performed at home through a catheter in your abdomen. It involves filling your abdominal cavity with a cleansing fluid. The fluid will remain in your abdomen for several hours while it collects waste and extra fluid, before being drained and thrown away.
UPMC experts use the latest techniques to provide life-prolonging dialysis care for people with kidney failure. Whether you need short-term dialysis treatment for acute kidney injury or longer-term dialysis treatment for chronic kidney disease or before a kidney transplant, our team will provide advanced care.
Dialysis — also called renal replacement therapy — cleans and filters waste from your blood, doing the job of your kidneys when they no longer work properly.
Dialysis will do everything your kidneys used to do, including:
Peritoneal dialysis is performed at home through a catheter in your abdomen. Peritoneal dialysis treatment uses a membrane from your own body — called the peritoneum — to filter and clean your blood. The peritoneum is a sac behind your abdominal muscles and in front of your intestines.
During dialysis, your peritoneum is filled with clean fluid. Toxins from your body gradually flow into the clean fluid. A few hours later, the fluid containing toxins is drained from your peritoneal sac, removing the toxins from your body. The peritoneal sac is then filled with clean fluid, and the process repeats itself. This exchange is done four or five times daily or can be done with a machine overnight while you sleep.
Peritoneal dialysis can be given at home, at work, or while traveling.
There are two types of peritoneal dialysis, including:
Peritoneal dialysis can be used to treat:
If your kidneys aren’t working properly due to acute kidney injury, chronic kidney disease, or end-stage kidney disease, you may be eligible for peritoneal dialysis. Your doctor will let you know if peritoneal dialysis is right for you.
You may be a candidate for peritoneal dialysis if you have acute kidney injury, chronic kidney disease, or end-stage kidney disease that is causing kidney failure. Your doctor will let you know if you need short-term peritoneal dialysis while your kidneys recover or if you need longer-term treatment while you wait for a kidney transplant.
Peritoneal dialysis may be the right option for you if you:
Alternatives to peritoneal dialysis include:
Hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis are both highly effective treatments for kidney failure. However, each has advantages and disadvantages.
Which type of dialysis is right for you depends on your condition, age, overall health, lifestyle, and treatment goals and preferences. Your doctor will discuss the pros and cons of each type of dialysis with you so you can choose the best option for your needs.
Peritoneal dialysis is a life-saving treatment option for people with kidney failure.
However, like all medical treatments, there are some risks and side effects, including:
Peritoneal dialysis increases the risk of developing an infection, either in the peritoneum (peritonitis) or at the site where the catheter exits the body.
Your doctor will give you instructions on how to prepare for peritoneal dialysis.
Before you start peritoneal dialysis, you will need a minor surgical procedure to place a catheter in your abdomen.
You will use the catheter to fill and drain cleansing fluid from your abdominal cavity during your peritoneal dialysis treatments. During your catheter placement procedure, your doctor will:
Most people can go home the same day as their catheter placement procedure, but you may need to stay overnight in the hospital. Your doctor will let you know if you can return home or if you will need to stay overnight.
Before you go home, your doctor will tell you how to care for the skin around your catheter and watch for problems. You will also need to heal for at least three weeks before starting your peritoneal dialysis treatments.
You will receive training on how to perform peritoneal dialysis from a dialysis nurse. Your nurse will show you how to fill and drain the cleansing fluid through your catheter. This process is called an “exchange.”
You will also be required to bring a loved one to the training, just in case you need help with your exchanges at home.
Even if you choose to have CCPD, you will also need to learn how to do CAPD exchanges — just in case your machine stops working, there is a power outage, or you need additional exchanges during the day.
Exchange times vary depending on the type of peritoneal dialysis you choose.
CAPD involves filling your abdominal cavity with cleansing fluid three to four times a day and going about your daily activities for four to six hours before draining the fluid. This method does not require you to be connected to any machine, but each exchange takes about 30 minutes to perform.
CCPD involves being connected to a machine that fills and drains your abdominal cavity three to five times during 10 to 12 overnight hours while you sleep.
Your treatment will vary depending on which type of peritoneal dialysis you choose.
You will need to gather your supplies before performing CAPD by hand.
Supplies include:
After you gather your supplies, wash your hands and put a surgical mask over your nose and mouth to prevent infection. You can then remove the protective cap on your catheter and connect your dialysis solution to your catheter using your transfer set.
You will then:
CCPD works like CAPD, except a cycler machine warms, fills, and drains the fluid from your abdomen for you. The machine will do three to five exchanges for you overnight while you sleep. For each exchange, you will need to connect one bag of dialysis solution to the cycler.
You may feel tired after your peritoneal dialysis treatment. As you adjust to your peritoneal dialysis schedule, you should notice an increase in your energy levels and a decrease in kidney failure symptoms.
You should call your doctor if you:
Your prognosis on peritoneal dialysis depends on your age, overall health, how consistent you are with your treatment, and other factors. Your doctor will discuss your prognosis with you.
Although the average life expectancy for people on dialysis is five to 10 years, many people live much longer.
Peritoneal dialysis is a highly successful, life-saving treatment for people who have kidney failure. However, it isn’t a cure for kidney failure.
In some cases, peritoneal dialysis may be a short-term treatment while your kidneys recover after an acute injury. Most people need to remain on dialysis for the rest of their lives unless they receive a kidney transplant.
When you choose UPMC for peritoneal dialysis, you will receive:
By UPMC Editorial Staff. Last reviewed on 2025-04-24 by Pooja Amarapurkar, MD.
