Patients with kidney failure often require dialysis while waiting for a kidney transplant. In the United States, the vast majority of these patients undergo hemodialysis three times a week at an outpatient hemodialysis unit. However, peritoneal dialysis, or PD, is a alternative. PD allows patients with kidney failure to do dialysis using their own body instead of a machine. They can also do dialysis in the comfort of their own homes, on their own schedules, and without any needles.
Prior to starting PD, a catheter, or soft tube, is placed in the patient’s abdominal cavity. This is done in the hospital with the patient asleep. During the procedure, a laparoscope, a type of small camera, is often placed in the patient’s abdomen to visualized the catheter position.
The laparoscopic technique allows the surgeon to address any other issues that may effect the patient’s PD catheter at the same time. These may include hernias or scar tissue from previous procedures. Patients go home after the procedure and are able to return to their usual activity. The catheter is given about two weeks to heal and then can be used. Patients undergo training in catheter care and use prior to starting treatments themselves in their homes.