A client starting continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis asks what it entails. Which statement is correct?

A client starting continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis asks what it entails. Which statement is correct?

• A. Hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis will be done together.
• B. Peritoneal dialysis is performed in an ambulatory care clinic.
• C. About a quarter of a liter of dialysate is maintained in the peritoneal cavity.
• D. Constant contact is maintained between the dialysate and the peritoneal membrane.

Answer: (D)

Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis works by keeping the dialysate in contact with the peritoneal membrane long enough for waste products to diffuse into the dialysate and for excess fluid to be removed by osmosis. The statement that constant contact is maintained between the dialysate and the peritoneal membrane captures this mechanism: the dialysate is infused into the abdomen, allowed to dwell so diffusion and ultrafiltration can occur, and then it’s drained and the cycle is repeated. In practice, this therapy is usually performed by the patient at home after initial training, not in a clinic as a routine. The typical volume per exchange in adults is about 1.5 to 2 liters, not a quarter of a liter.

Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis works by keeping the dialysate in contact with the peritoneal membrane long enough for waste products to diffuse into the dialysate and for excess fluid to be removed by osmosis. The statement that constant contact is maintained between the dialysate and the peritoneal membrane captures this mechanism: the dialysate is infused into the abdomen, allowed to dwell so diffusion and ultrafiltration can occur, and then it’s drained and the cycle is repeated.

In practice, this therapy is usually performed by the patient at home after initial training, not in a clinic as a routine. The typical volume per exchange in adults is about 1.5 to 2 liters, not a quarter of a liter.