Word parts
What it means
A way to clean the blood when the kidneys fail. A sterile solution (dialysate) runs into the abdomen through a soft catheter, stays there for a set time (the dwell), and is then drained out, taking waste and extra fluid with it. The peritoneum, the thin lining of the abdomen, does the filtering. It can be done at home, by hand several times a day or by a machine at night.
For the nurse
Use strict sterile technique with the catheter and warm the dialysate as directed, never in a microwave. Weigh the client and record how much goes in and comes out. Report cloudy drained fluid, fever or abdominal pain, which can mean peritonitis, and an outflow much smaller than the inflow. ISMP lists dialysis solutions as high-alert medications.
In a chart
"Exchange complete: 2,000 mL instilled, 2,350 mL clear yellow effluent drained."
At a glance
| Abbreviations | PD (but PD has other meanings, so write it out) |
|---|---|
| Spanish | diálisis peritoneal |
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.
peritone/o
A word root that means the peritoneum, the thin lining of the abdominal cavity.
renal failure
Loss of the kidneys' ability to filter waste and extra fluid from the blood.