CAPD: Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis

Here is what CAPD stands for:

Continuous: CAPD is continuous because the dialysis process does not end. Because it works a lot like your kidneys did, it is a very natural process. CAPD constantly cleans the blood as long as there is dialysis fluid in the peritoneal cavity. With CAPD, you are dialyzing 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Ambulatory: "Ambulate" means "to walk." CAPD is ambulatory because you are not attached to a machine for treatment. The dialysis is happening all the time, day and night - during activities and while you sleep.

Peritoneal: Refers to the peritoneum, a membrane in your abdomen. Your peritoneal membrane acts like a filter which removes wastes from your blood. The waste and extra fluids travel into the dialysis solution and are then removed from the body when the solution is drained into a drain bag.

Dialysis: The blood inside you is filtered and cleansed of wastes and excess water. No blood is removed from you during this treatment. The dialysis process happens gently, inside your own body.

When you are on CAPD, you change the fluid in your peritoneal cavity by doing what is called "an exchange". This can be performed in any clean and convenient place - at home, at work, at school or on vacation. The exchanges use gravity to drain the used fluid out of the peritoneal cavity and to replace it with fresh fluid. Most CAPD patients need to do about 3 to 5 exchanges a day.

The first time you start CAPD you will connect your catheter to a bag of dialysis fluid. This fluid flows into your body through the catheter. Once all the fluid is in your abdomen, you disconnect the bag and go about your normal activities for the next 4 to 5 hours. This is called the dwell time. CAPD is not uncomfortable or painful, and most adults can hold 2 to 3 quarts (liters) of fluid in the abdomen without being aware of it.

When it is time to remove the used fluid from your body, you connect the catheter to an empty drain bag and a new bag of fresh solution. The used dialysis fluid drains out into the drain bag, which is placed on the floor. Then the fresh fluid is allowed to flow into your body from a bag suspended above shoulder level. It takes between 10 and 20 minutes to drain the used fluid and 10 minutes to fill with fresh solution. When the exchange is complete, you disconnect the bags and throw them away. You are then free for the next 4 to 5 hours.

With CAPD you can manage your own care at home. The treatment schedule is flexible and can be changed to meet your needs. It usually takes about 5 to 10 training sessions with a nurse to learn how to do CAPD. No needles are used, and your diet and fluid intake are usually less restricted than they would be on hemodialysis.