CAPD

When people do PD exchanges by hand every few hours, this type of dialysis is called CAPD:

• C = continuous (all the time)
• A = ambulatory (walking around)
• P = peritoneal (you know this one)
• D = dialysis (cleaning the blood)

Most people on CAPD do three to five exchanges a day. Each one takes about 30 minutes. Exchanges must be done with care to prevent painful infections called peritonitis.

Because dialysis takes place all the time with PD, few food and fluid limits are needed. And because patients do the treatment themselves, on their own schedule, PD