In hemodialysis, metabolic waste and excess fluids are removed from the blood through a needle inserted into a blood vessel in the arm or leg. Usually, a person undergoing hemodialysis must travel to a hospital or dialysis center three times a week to undergo four-hour dialysis sessions. Peritoneal dialysis, sometimes called home dialysis, enlists the body's own abdominal lining to filter and remove waste from the blood stream and is usually self-administered by the patient. Peritoneal dialysis allows patients to set their own dialysis schedule. No needles are used and the diet and fluid intake is usually less restricted than in hemodialysis.
Peritoneal dialysis is easily portable and conducive to travel.
During the course of a patient's treatment for end-stage renal disease, there may be a role for both forms of dialysis. A patient may transfer from one therapy to another based on clinical need, or pursue the possibility of transplantation. The company is the world's leading manufacturer of products for peritoneal dialysis, and also provides products and services for hemodialysis to patients worldwide. The AAKP is a voluntary, patient organization that is dedicated to helping renal patients and their families deal with the physical, emotional and social impact of kidney disease. The association reaches over 100,000 patients and has patient-run chapters located throughout the country.