Author: Lea

HOME DIALYSIS
PERITONEAL DIALYSIS

This booklet is intended to give you a brief overview of peritoneal dialysis. It will explain its availability, its advantages and how you may be assessed for this treatment. If you are interested in peritoneal dialysis, or if your unit consultant and nurse feel you may be suitable, we would be delighted to provide you with further information.
PERITONEAL DIALYSIS
BOOKLET

Having Dialysis at home– has a clear advantage as people can choose when to have their dialysis treatments, at times most convenient to them.
Peritoneal dialysis is delivered via a permanent tube placed in the abdomen, the procedure can be done as a day case or may require a overnight stay in hospital. Peritoneal dialysis is a daily treatment with fluid always inside the abdomen allowing dialysis twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. When the tube is not being used it needs to be secured by tape.
There are two ways to perform peritoneal dialysis either individual bags four times a day. Each bag exchange takes approx 30-40 mins. An example would be breakfast, lunch, teatime and bedtime, but times are flexible.
Alternatively there is an overnight machine whereby the dialysis occurs overnight whilst you sleep. The machine can be set up in advance prior to going to bed. Time on the machine is dependant on the amount of dialysis required.
The main benefits for dialysing at home are listed here:
Improve quality of life and well being.
Improve overall health
Greater flexibility of treatments
Less time spent travelling and waiting for treatment
Possibility to reduce/review medications further as the blood levels are stabilised
More freedom with fluid and diet allowance
Holidays are easy to arrange, the dialysis fluids can be delivered to most countries, prior notice is required, please discuss this with the dialysis nurses. It is important to have travel insurance in place and the Kent Kidney Patient Association web site has information regarding this.
The Dialysis company will deliver supplies to your home each month. It is important that someone is home to receive the delivery. Each month the company will ring you for a stock take ready for the next months

delivery. It is your responsibility to ensure this is correct as any shortfall will need to be collected from the main unit at Kent and Canterbury Hospital. You will be delivered approx 45 boxes of dialysis fluid plus ancillaries each month. You will need storage the size of a 3 seater sofa and the fluid must be kept dry and frost free.
Although there are satellite units around Kent, Home Dialysis is based at Kent and Canterbury Hospital next to Marlowe Ward. Any problems with peritoneal dialysis is dealt with at the main unit on the Canterbury site. There are no Peritoneal Dialysis nurses in the satellite units and other hospitals. You will be required to come to Canterbury for routine reviews of your treatment. There is a nurse based in the community who maybe able to see you at home at short notice. We are able to provide routine Consultant reviews in our clinics at Maidstone, Ashford, Margate and Canterbury which ever is closes to your home address.
To be able to have dialysis at home you need to be well motivated and committed to carry out you dialysis treatment.
Able to attend clinic appointments for review of your dialysis on a regular basis which is determined on how stable your treatment is going and how much support you require.
You will need to have a suitable surface or an area that could be adapted within the home environment to perform your dialysis.
You will need to demonstrate a responsibility of care to yourself this means you are able to make safe, responsible decisions about all aspects of your care.
The training to enable you to perform peritoneal dialysis can be done in your home or at the training centre in London subject to availability.
Not all patients are suitable for peritoneal dialysis, this could be due to previous abdominal surgery or bowel conditions.
If you wish to have more information regarding peritoneal dialysis please contact Home Dialysis on 01227 864011 and a home visit can be arranged.

Standard Information
If you have a disability
We have many facilities to help you, such as allocated
parking spaces, induction loops, automatic doors,
interpreters information in large print. Any member of
our staff will always be happy to help.
Cash & valuables
When coming into hospital please refrain from bringing
in valuables or items of sentimental value. Unless handed
into staff for safe keeping, the hospital may not be able to
accept responsibility for any loss. You should only require
a small amount of money to buy sundries, for example, a
newspaper / magazine or to use the telephone.
For further information
If you have any further queries, please speak to your doctor or consultant.
THIS LEAFLET HAS BEEN PRODUCED WITH AND FOR PATIENTS.

Useful Web sites:
MyKidney.org
National Kidney Federation
NHS Choices

Version 1 - Leaflet produced by Lea Burnett and Sally Krause
Date of Production: May 2015 - Leaflet revision date: May 2017

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