Peritoneal Dialysis Nursing Care: Techniques and Monitoring—Expert Guide with 15 Must-Know Essentials
A Brief Look at Peritoneal Dialysis
A treatment called peritoneal dialysis (PD) can save the lives of people who have chronic kidney disease (CKD) or end-stage renal disease (ESRD). It includes putting dialysis fluid into the peritoneal cavity to get rid of waste and extra fluid when the kidneys aren’t working right.
The home-based method of PD is what makes it stand out. It gives patients more freedom, flexibility, and quality of life. There must be careful nursing care, constant monitoring, and thorough patient education, though, in order for the results to be successful.
Why nursing care is important in peritoneal dialysis
Most of the care for people on peritoneal dialysis comes from nurses. They help patients through education before the surgery and long-term home care, making sure the therapy works, complications are kept to a minimum, and patients stay confident and obey the rules.
In PD, nursing care is based on
Teaching how to be sterile
Checking critical signs and how well dialysis is working
Complications are found early
Getting people to take care of themselves
Different Kinds of Peritoneal Dialysis
Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis (CAPD): In this hand-operated method, patients do transfers several times a day. It doesn’t need any tools, so it’s perfect for places with few resources or in the country.
Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis (APD)
APD does dialysis on a machine called a cycler, usually overnight. People who work full-time or need help at night often choose this method due to its flexibility.
What the dialysis nurse does and how they do it
This is what a PD nurse must do:
Do basic assessments of patients
Give in-depth lessons on how to exchange money.
Monitor the signs of illness, electrolytes, and fluid balance.
Find and fix problems with catheters
Work with dietitians, nephrologists, and guardians to make plans.
Getting the patient ready for peritoneal dialysis involves:
Help and therapy for mental health issues
An analysis of nutrition
Evaluation of the home surroundings
Putting in a Tenckhoff tube through surgery
Teaching the patient how to use the tools, keep themselves clean, and fix problems
Sterile methods and stopping infections
Preventing infections is critical. Nurses need to stress:
Clean your hands before every exchange
The right way to wear a mask during the process
Getting the move set clean and germ-free
Using clean materials
Peritonitis and exit site infections are common risks for getting infections and are the main reasons why PD patients end up in the hospital.
Monitoring of fluids and electrolytes
Nurses must carefully watch:
Charts for input and output
Changes in weight
Warning signs of low blood volume or too much fluid
Unbalanced electrolytes (like potassium, calcium, and bicarbonate)
Close tracking helps make sure that dialysis is working properly and stops problems like high blood pressure or metabolic acidosis from happening.
Take Care of and Manage the Catheter Site
Important points are:
Every day, check the tube site for redness, swelling, or discharge.
Making sure the spot is clean and dry
Teaching the person not to push on or pull on the tube
reporting any signs of illness right away
Taking Care of Complications: Infections at the Exit Site and Peritonitis
They need to learn how to spot early warning signs like
Dialysate discharge that is cloudy
Pain or fever in the abdomen
Catheter spots that are red or swollen
It is important to act right away with culture tests and medicines. Regular patient teaching lowers the chance of recurrence.
Teaching about patient education and home care support includes:
How to carry out transactions
Seeing the signs of an illness or an imbalance of fluids
Keep a daily log of your blood pressure, weight, and output.
Safely moving and storing equipment
Regular follow-up calls and visits to the patient’s home improve adherence and patient trust.
Advice on nutrition and lifestyle
This is some nutritional advice:
Diets low in phosphorus and salt
Getting enough protein
Limits on fluids if needed
Keeping away from things that throw off the balance of potassium or calcium
Renal dietitians and nurses should work together to make custom plans.
Help for long-term dialysis patients’ mental health
Dialysis for a long time can be hard on the mind and emotions. Nurses need to:
Encourage people to join support groups
Give people mental health referrals
Listen with understanding
Help them set goals that they can reach.
Emotional health has a direct effect on results and compliance.
Modern PD programs utilize technology to monitor activities and maintain records.
EHRs stand for electronic health records.
Devices for remote monitoring
Apps for phones that keep treatment logs
The nurses can use these tools to spot patterns, find problems early, and improve care.
Legal and Moral Issues in Peritoneal Dialysis Nurses must obey these rules:
How to get informed consent
Patient information must be kept secret.
Ethical choices about medicines that keep people alive
Talks about planning ahead for care
It is essential to keep clear records and communicate with care.
Working together with teams from different fields
Care that works includes:
Working together with social workers, nutritionists, nephrologists, and pharmacists
Having regular team meetings and case talks
Giving and getting information for personalized care plans
Questions That Are Often Asked
1. What is the most common complication associated with peritoneal dialysis?
Ans Peritonitis, an infection of the peritoneal region, is the most common and dangerous side effect.
2. Can people who are on peritoneal dialysis travel?
Ans You can take PD with you. Patients can travel as long as they plan ahead, keep track of their supplies, and follow clean procedures.
3. For how long can someone stay on peritoneal dialysis?
Answer: Many people can keep doing PD for 5 to 10 years without any problems, but it depends on their health and how well they follow the method.
4.Do you think peritoneal dialysis is better than hemodialysis?
Answer: It depends on what the patient wants, their health, and how they live their lives. PD gives you more freedom and works better for home care.
5. What should people with Parkinson’s disease eat?
Ans People are often told to eat a diet that is high in protein and low in salt, potassium, and phosphorus. A nutritionist should make it unique for each person.
Can you perform peritoneal dialysis while you sleep?
Ans Yes, Automated Peritoneal Dialysis (APD) utilizes a cycler machine that operates continuously throughout the night.