CAPD
(Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis)
Happens throughout the day, at home or at work,
while the person goes about his or her daily life.
Between 1.5 and 3 litres of fluid is run in four
times a day, exchanging for the fluid from the
previous exchange. This takes about 30-40 minutes.
You will receive thorough training in bag changing
and sterile techniques. The time it takes to learn
varies from one person to another, but the average
time is a week to 10 days. CAPD is a simple and
flexible treatment and the procedure is not
difficult to learn. It will soon become part of your
everyday routine.
Once you are established on CAPD, you will continue
to attend your Unit for regular outpatient
appointments. It will be important for you to keep
daily records of your treatment in a book that will
be provided and to take this book with you when you
go to the Unit.
APD
(Automated Peritoneal Dialysis)
In which the dialysate solution is changed by a
machine
called cycler, at night, while you are asleep. The machine
will exchange 8-12 litres over 8-10 hours and then
leave 1-2 litres to dwell during the day.
APD is designed to be simple and performed in your
own bedroom - children have always been dialysed
this way and now the machines are more friendly and
simple. As you go to bed you load the machine with
fluid and it then performs a number of cycles while
you are asleep. The fluid is drained away into a
large drainage bag for disposal. Most often the
machine will give a last fill of fluid which stays
inside the tummy until the next night when it is
drained away. When you disconnect in the morning you
will be left with the short capped off tube only.
You will be trained by the PD nurses - the
techniques need to be done correctly and in a clean
manner - but are designed to be done at home perhaps
with the help of a partner. Although you are at
home, you will be contacted frequently by the nurses
and will come to the out-patient clinic every few
weeks.
