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Doing dialysis at home
Peritoneal dialysis (PD)
The peritoneal dialysis process cleans your blood continuously inside your body, using your own peritoneum as the filter. Your nurse will fully train you or your family to perform your PD treatment at home.
Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD)
CAP dialysis does not require a machine. It uses gravity to change the peritoneal dialysis fluid. You will exchange fluid (infuse and drain) four times a day, for 30 minutes each time.
Automated peritoneal dialysis (APD)
APD uses a machine called a peritoneal dialysis cycler to perform the fluid exchanges. The treatment is done at home, and during the night for 8–10 hours while you sleep.
Home hemodialysis (HHD)
HHD is dialysis done at home. Your blood is cleaned outside your body using a home hemodialysis machine and a manufactured filter called a dialyzer. You can adjust your treatment schedule around your work, school and other activities. Therapy can be completed during the day or at night while you sleep.
Short daily HHD
Short daily home hemodialysis is performed using a home hemodialysis machine during the day or evening; this type of home dialysis is completed by you, with the support of your family, for 2–3 hours per day.
Overnight home hemodialysis (overnight HHD or nocturnal HHD)
Overnight home dialysis is performed at home for 8–10 hours overnight while you sleep. Therapy is usually performed six days a week.
Conventional home hemodialysis (conventional HHD)
Conventional HHD is performed at home with a hemodialysis machine. You or your family must set up the kidney dialysis machine and perform the treatment. Treatments are on average four hours long and take place three times a week.
Regardless of the type of home dialysis you and your healthcare team determine is best for your kidney disease and lifestyle, a nurse will always train you and your family on how the dialysis machine works and how to do dialysis at home.
Hospital/Clinic
In-centre hemodialysis (ICHD)
Hemodialysis filters your blood outside your body using a dialysis machine and a manufactured filter called a dialyzer. Conventional ICHD is performed by the nursing staff or technicians at the clinic. You have to go to the hospital/clinic three times a week for renal dialysis. Each treatment lasts about 4–5 hours. Commute time to hospital and wait time at the hospital could be up to two hours. In some cases, you may be able to perform some tasks yourself at the clinic/satellite unit.