In peritoneal dialysis, a solution called dialysate is flown through a tube that leads to the abdomen. The waste from the blood is then drained from the abdomen. Then the abdomen is filled with fresh dialysate, and the process is started all over again. There are three types of peritoneal dialysis:
Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis (CAPD)
This is the most common type of peritoneal dialysis. The dialysate goes through a plastic bag, a catheter and then into the abdomen. After several hours, the plastic bag is drained and then refilled again to start the cleaning process over. The empty plastic bag can be folded to hide under clothes or placed in the pocket.
Continuous Cyclic Peritoneal Dialysis (CCPD)
This is like CAPD, except that a machine fills the abdomen with dialysate. This procedure is done at night.
Intermittent Peritoneal Dialysis (IPD)
IPD is done the same as CCPD, except the IPD is usually done in the hospital and takes a longer amount of time.
