Moreover, peritoneal dialysis can be safely performed in patients at high risk for bleeding because it avoids the use of heparin. In CAPD, dialysate solution is infused from collapsible plastic bags into the abdominal cavity, where it remains, or dwells, for a given period and is then drained. Generally, three to five exchanges are performed daily, with an overnight dwell. Although numerous peritoneal catheters are now available, the one devised by Tenckhoff remains the most widely used. Anticoagulation is not required.
Peritoneal dialysis can improve the patient's quality of life.
The technique can be performed at home, providing patients with a greater sense of independence and participation. The diet can be more liberal with respect to protein, salt, potassium, and fluid intake. In addition, with the use of new automated cyclers, dialysis can be performed at night while the patient sleeps, thereby avoiding any interruption of work or school schedule. 5 Peritoneal dialysis is the preferred mode of therapy for children because, in addition to the reasons mentioned above, CAPD obviates fistula sticks and, most important, enables growth. Moreover, despite its many advantages, peritoneal dialysis has a number of potential complications, including technical problems with catheter placement or malfunction, failure of dialysis fluid to infuse or drain, dialysate leaks, alterations in peritoneal membrane permeability, and infection.