What is peritoneal dialysis?
The inside of your abdomen is lined by a thin membrane called the peritoneum. It has a rich blood supply, which means it can work as a natural filter.
In peritoneal dialysis, a sterile cleansing fluid called dialysate is passed into the abdomen through a soft, thin tube called a PD catheter. Over a few hours, waste products and extra water move from your blood into the fluid. The used fluid is then drained out and replaced with fresh fluid. Each drain-and-fill is called an exchange.
The catheter is placed in a small operation, ideally a couple of weeks before you need to start dialysis, so that the site has time to heal.
Two ways to do PD
CAPD
Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis Exchanges are done by hand, usually 3 to 4 times a day. Each one takes about 30–40 minutes, and you go about your day in between. No machine is needed.APD
Automated peritoneal dialysis A small machine called a cycler does the exchanges for you overnight while you sleep, usually over 8–10 hours, leaving most of your day free.Why patients choose PD
- Dialysis at home, on your own schedule, with fewer trips to hospital
- No needles at each session
- Easier to keep working, studying or travelling
- Gentle, continuous treatment that removes fluid gradually
- It may help protect the kidney function you still have
- Often fewer diet and fluid restrictions than haemodialysis
Is PD right for everyone?
Not always, and an honest assessment matters. PD can be harder after major abdominal surgery, with some types of hernia, or where there is no clean, private space at home for supplies and exchanges. You, or a family member, also need to be able to carry out exchanges carefully every day.
The main risk of PD is infection of the peritoneum, called peritonitis. This is why good training and careful hygiene matter so much. The choice between PD and haemodialysis is one we make together, based on your health, your home and what matters most to you.
Trained in the United Kingdom
Dr. Gaurav Singh completed specialist training in peritoneal dialysis in the United Kingdom (FISPD, UK), including a PD fellowship at Birmingham Heartlands Hospital.
In the UK, home dialysis is routinely offered to people starting dialysis, and PD programmes are built around structured patient training, regular review and strict infection prevention. He brings the same approach to his patients in Navi Mumbai:
- Structured training for patients and carers before starting PD at home
- Clear steps for preventing, recognising and treating infection
- Regular checks on how well dialysis is working, using blood tests and assessments of the peritoneal membrane
- Planned starts on dialysis wherever possible, rather than emergency starts
PD care with Dr. Gaurav Singh
- Counselling on all dialysis options, so you can make an informed choice
- Planning the timing of PD catheter insertion with the surgical team
- Training for you and your family before you start at home
- Regular clinic reviews of fluid balance, blood tests and dialysis adequacy
- Prompt assessment and treatment of peritonitis and exit-site infections
- Support for patients switching from haemodialysis to PD
Thinking about dialysis options?
If you or a family member has advanced kidney disease, the best time to talk about dialysis is before it is needed. Book a consultation to find out whether PD could work for you.
This article is general information and does not replace advice from your own doctor. If you are on PD and have cloudy fluid, abdominal pain or a fever, contact your dialysis team straight away.
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