Peritoneal dialysis is commonly used among patients with chronic or acute
renal failure. Although both hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis are aimed at
artificially removing useless toxins and wastes, due to their respective
characteristics, there exist some indications and contraindications for both
dialysis methods. In the following passage, we'll focus on the indications for
peritoneal dialysis so as to help you understand it better.
1.As peritoneal dialysis can be easily operated and can be even taken at
home, it can be taken at night for those who have to go to work or study in the
daytime.
2.The senior, children and infants with poor vascular conditions
Compared with hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis doesn't require the
establishment of vascular access, therefore, it is suitable for children who are
in fear of the pains brought by repeatedly vascular puncture. Besides,
peritoneal dialysis does much less damage to blood vessels than hemodialysis,
for which it can be taken by senior patients who are often accompanied by
cardiovascular complications.
3. Patients with cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease, or with
cardiovascular instability can take peritoneal dialysis more than
hemodialysis.
Such diseases mainly include angina pectoris, myocardial infarction,
cardiomyopathy, serious arrhythmia, cerebrovascular accident, repeated
hypotension, and resistant hypertension.
4 Obvious bleeding tendency and coagulation disorders in important organs
such as intracerebral, gastrointestinal tract and intracranical vascular
tumors.
5. Toxic diseases
For patients with acute medicine and toxin poisoning, especially for those
with contraindications of hemodialysis(severe infections, bleeding or anemia,
low blood pressure, etc.), peritoneal dialysis can be taken into consideration.
Peritoneal dialysis can help those patients to artificially remove toxins,
metabolic wastes, water and sodium retention.
Besides the above, acute pancreatitis, acute or chronic liver failure are
also indications for peritoneal dialysis. However, some side effects such as
infections may appear during peritoneal dialysis. Peritoneal dialysis can
temporarily remove useless toxins and excessive water, but it is not aimed at
repairing impaired kidney functional units. Over time, complications may arise
and you may have to take a kidney transplant unless another therapy that can
repair kidney damages is taken. Here in this hospital in China, you may find a
way to repair damaged kidneys instead of relying on dialysis.
