What is Peritoneal Dialysis?

Peritoneal Dialysis (PD) is a treatment for kidney disease where dialysate fluid is placed into the abdomen. Dialysate absorbs waste products and fluid from the blood, using the lining of the abdomen as the filter. The benefit of this type of dialysis is that it can be done at home and at night, allowing people more freedom, flexibility and control. Learn more by reading about PD below, by watching the suggested videos, and by visiting with your kidney doctor or dialysis nurses. 

To have peritoneal dialysis, a dialysis catheter needs to be placed in the abdominal wall during a surgical procedure. The procedure requires general anesthesia, and usually takes about 60 minutes. Most patients are able to go home the same day of surgery. A surgical dressing will be placed over the catheter site, and will need to be changed in about 1 week. After 2 weeks, the dialysis nurse may start flushing and using the catheter if the incisions are all healed. The surgeon will provide you more information about this at your consultation.

If PD is the right choice for you, then please consider doing the following: 

1. Discuss your choice with your nephrologist and visit with a dialysis nurse that specializes in PD. 

2. Obtain a referral or make an appointment to see the surgeon

3. Go to the consultation with the surgeon and complete any workup that is recommended

Surgery office: 

IHA General Surgery Brighton

2305 Genoa Business Park Dr

Suite 120

Brighton, MI48114

Meet the surgeon: 

Eric Davies, MD, FACS

https://ihacares.com/providers/mi/brighton/eric-davies-md

Here are some more internet resources about PD that we have found helpful: 

https://www.kidney.org/atoz/content/peritoneal

https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/kidney-disease/kidney-failure/peritoneal-dialysis