These apparatuses are placed in the arm if possible. After the surgery has completely healed, the dialysis can begin. The process starts by placing two needles in the access to the bloodstream. These two needles are used for removing the blood to be filtered and returning the clean blood to the body. This process usually occurs three times a week and lasts about three to five hours.
Peritoneal dialysis uses the lining of the abdomen as a filter.
Dialysate, a cleansing solution is drained from the bag into the abdomen where fluid and other wastes are filtered through the abdomen and become trapped in the cleaning solution dialysate. The solution is drained bringing with it the extra fluids and wastes. Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis is the most common type of peritoneal dialysis. The blood is continuously being cleaned with this type of dialysis. The dialysate solution is sealed in a catheter and placed into the abdomen.