The membrane of these fibers is so thin that water is allowed to pass, and varying the pressure across the membrane allows the dialysis machine to remove the excessive fluids built up between treatments. This type of dialysis requires that either an arteriovenous fistula or synthetic graft access be created. Alternately a double lumen catheter can be used. Fluid is transferred from the tiny blood vessels that supply this membrane to the abdominal cavity. Glucose, like salt, can act as an osmotic gradient, and increase the transfer of water into the abdominal cavity for elimination.
Peritoneal dialysis requires the placement of a peritoneal catheter.
This catheter ideally takes two or more weeks to mature. True - the two types of dialysis are hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. These were briefly explained in answering question 3. Hemodialysis is generally performed for four hours in a dialysis center while peritoneal dialysis can be performed at home. Peritoneal dialysis may be performed using manual exchanges - chronic ambulatory peritoneal dialysis.