What it means
In peritoneal dialysis, the effluent is the dialysis fluid drained out of the abdomen after it has pulled waste and extra water from the blood. In continuous renal replacement therapy, it is the fluid removed through the filter. Normal peritoneal effluent is clear and pale yellow; cloudy effluent is a classic sign of peritonitis.
For the nurse
Look at every bag: note the volume, color and clarity, and compare the amount drained with the amount put in. Report cloudy, bloody or foul-smelling effluent, or a drain volume much lower than the fill.
In a chart
"PD effluent 2,300 mL, clear and straw-colored; 2,000 mL instilled."
Related terms
chronic kidney disease
Kidney damage or reduced kidney function that lasts longer than three months.
dialysis
A treatment that removes wastes and extra fluid from the blood when the kidneys can no longer do it.