Peritoneal Dialysis Catheter Placement & Removal

Peritoneal dialysis offered by the Serrano Kidney and Vascular Access Center, is a treatment for patients with severe chronic kidney disease.The process uses the patient’s peritoneum in the abdomen as a membrane across which fluids and dissolved substances (electrolytes, urea, glucose, albumin and other small molecules) are exchanged from the blood. Fluid is introduced through a permanent catheter tube in the abdomen and flushed out either every night while the patient sleeps (automatic peritoneal dialysis), or via regular exchanges throughout the day (continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis).
A peritoneal dialysis catheter is used as an alternative to hemodialysis though it is far less common. It has comparable risks and expenses, with the primary advantage being the ability to undertake treatment without visiting a medical facility. The primary complication with peritoneal dialysis is a risk of infection due to the presence of a permanent catheter in the abdomen.