Friday, May 29, 2015

Infection Control for Peritoneal Dialysis (PD) Patients After a Disaster

During hemodialysis, blood passes from the patient's body through a filter in the dialysis machine, called a "dialysis membrane." For this procedure, the patient has a specialized plastic tube placed between an artery and a vein in the arm or leg. Sometimes, a direct connection is made between an artery and a vein in the arm. This procedure is called a "Cimino fistula." Needles are then placed in the graft or fistula, and blood passes to the dialysis machine, through the filter, and back to the patient. In the dialysis machine, a solution on the other side of the filter receives the waste products from the patient.

Peritoneal dialysis uses the patients own body tissues inside of the belly (abdominal cavity) to act as the filter. The intestines lie in the abdominal cavity, the space between the abdominal wall and the spine. A plastic tube called a "dialysis catheter" is placed through the abdominal wall into the abdominal cavity. A special fluid is then flushed into the abdominal cavity and washes around the intestines. The intestinal walls act as a filter between this fluid and the blood stream. By using different types of solutions, waste products and excess water can be removed from the body through this process.

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is a practical and widespread treatment for kidney failure. Because a soft tube (catheter) is present in the abdominal cavity for this treatment, special care must be taken by PD patients and their medical providers to prevent infection, especially following natural disasters when flooding may be present, access to medical supplies may be limited, or PD patients who may be living in temporary housing.kidneyhospitalabroad@hotmail.com

Some of the most common symptoms of peritonitis are:

  • Abdominal pain
  • Abdominal tenderness
  • Abdominal distention
  • Cloudy PD fluid
  • Fever
  • Nausea and vomiting

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