Automated Peritoneal Dialysis

Abstract

Over the past five years, compared to CAPD, there has been a rapid growth of automated peritoneal dialysis (APD). In APD therapy, a cycler machine is used for infusion and drainage of the dialysis solution (Figure 34). The growth of APD has resulted from a combination of improved physician knowledge of the peritoneal physiology and the availability of better cycler machines for patient use. The physicians have learned to prescribe an adequate amount of dialysis by using adequacy measures such as the dialysis creatinine clearance and Kt/V urea, etc. CAPD patients, either inadequately dialyzed because of the low peritoneal membrane function or unable to continue on CAPD because of the complications resulting from raised intra-abdominal pressure, who otherwise would have dropped out from the peritoneal dialysis treatment, are being increasingly managed by the APD therapy.