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Medical Reviewing Editor:

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.

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In this Article

• Dialysis Facts
• What is dialysis?
• When do patients require dialysis?
• What types of dialysis are there?
• What does the patient do during dialysis?
• What are the advantages of the different types of dialysis?
• How can patients learn more about dialysis?
• Patient Comments: Dialysis - Experience
• Find a local Nephrologist in your town
• Dialysis Index

What are the advantages of the different types of dialysis?

Each of the two types of dialysis, hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis, has advantages and disadvantages. It is up to the patient to decide which of these procedures is best by considering her/his life style, other medical conditions, support systems, and how much responsibility and participation in the treatment program he/she desires. Each patient must view the two types of dialysis procedures from her/his own perspective.

Regardless of which type of dialysis is chosen , patients have certain responsibilities such as following a diet program, watching their fluid intake and taking special vitamins and other medicines to control blood pressure and calcium and phosphorus balance.

For many patients, the major advantage of hemodialysis is minimal participation in the treatment. However, patients are required to adhere to a specific schedule and travel to the dialysis unit. Hemodialysis also requires stricter diet control and fluid control than peritoneal dialysis.

For those patients preferring more independence, peritoneal dialysis allows for more flexible scheduling and can be performed at home. The patient still must undergo a certain amount of dialysis each day, but can alter the exact timing of the dialysis procedure. On the other hand, peritoneal dialysis must be done every day of the week.

The major problem with peritoneal dialysis is infection. The patient has a plastic tube that goes from the peritoneal cavity to the outside of the body and this is a potential site for the entry of bacteria into the body. Great emphasis is placed on cleanliness and technique during the training sessions.