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Home hemodialysis

With home hemodialysis, a small, more portable machine is kept in your home to clean your blood. Your blood flows from two needles connected to tubing (like IV lines), usually in your arm, to a machine that removes wastes and fluid. The clean blood is then returned to your body.Ìý

Peritoneal dialysis

In peritoneal dialysis, a cleansing fluid goes into your abdomen through a small tube called a PD access. The fluid stays inside you for several hours, removing waste and water from the blood vessels of the peritoneum (lining of your abdomen). The fluid is then drained out and replaced with clean fluid. PD can work by gravity or with a machine.

We provide two types of peritoneal dialysis treatments: continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (°ä´¡±Ê¶Ù)Ìý²¹²Ô»å automated peritoneal dialysisÌý(´¡±Ê¶Ù).

Home hemodialysis

Before you begin hemodialysis treatments at home, you’ll need to:

• ÌýGet a hemodialysis access.ÌýThe best type of access is a fistula. The fistula makes it possible for us to connect you to a dialysis machine to clean your blood. To get a fistula, you’ll have surgery as an outpatient where a surgeon will join a vein and an artery together inside your arm. After six to eight weeks, the fistula will be big enough to start being used for dialysis.

• ÌýReceive training.ÌýWe will train you in one of our centers before you start dialyzing at home. Training is usually four weeks to make sure you are ready and comfortable doing home hemodialysis on your own or with a helper.

Peritoneal dialysis

Before you begin peritoneal dialysis treatments at home, you’ll need to:

•Ìý Get a PD access.ÌýA surgeon will implant a PD access (a thin, soft tube that carries dialysis fluid into your abdomen for treatment) near your belly button. YourÌýPD accessÌýstays in place permanently but is not visibleÌýunder clothing.

• ÌýReceive training.ÌýWe’ll train you in one of our centers on proper procedures and safeguardsÌýbefore you start PDÌý²¹³Ù home. Training is individual and usually takes about a week.

Home hemodialysis

Your routine will vary, depending on which home hemodialysis schedule you choose. Here’s what you can expect for each:

• ÌýFrequentÌýhome hemodialysis.ÌýYou’ll connect to your dialysis machine five to six days per week for about three to threeÌýand a half hours each time. The equipment for home hemodialysisÌýis compact and portable, making it easy to take along with you if you travel.

• ÌýNocturnalÌýhome hemodialysis.ÌýFiveÌýto six days per week, you’ll connect to your dialysis machine before bed and dialyze overnight for six toÌýeight hours.

Peritoneal dialysis (CAPD)

A typicalÌýcontinuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysisÌýtreatment, called an exchange, takes about 40 minutes and will go like this:

• ÌýConnect your PD accessÌýto a disposable exchange set.

• ÌýDrain out used dialysis fluid (dialysate) into a bag.

• ÌýFill from theÌýbag ofÌýfresh solution.Ìý

• ÌýDisconnect, discard bags and tubing.ÌýThe dialysate stays in you until the next exchange.

• ÌýCAPD takes place four times around the time of breakfast, at lunch time, dinner and bed time.

PeritonealÌýdialysis (APD)

A typicalÌýautomated peritoneal dialysisÌýtreatment, will go like this:

• ÌýBegin the process before bed.ÌýConnect yourself to aÌýmachine called an automated cycler that will fill your abdomen with dialysis fluid while you sleep. You’ll remain connected to the machine for around eight to 10 hours overnight.

• ÌýDialyze throughout the night.ÌýThe automated cycler will fill, drain, and then refill your abdomen with dialysis fluid three to five times as you sleep.

• ÌýDoÌýa single daytime exchange.ÌýMany people do one more exchange by hand during the day.