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About Home Dialysis
When an individual’s kidneys are no longer able to remove toxins from the bloodstream, they may require dialysis which is a procedure that manually removes toxins from the blood.
Home dialysis allows patients who meet certain criteria to perform dialysis at home, instead of in clinic. This allows patients with kidney disease to enhance their quality of life by offering more flexible care schedules.
Advantages of home dialysis include:
- Schedule flexibility: you don’t have to come into the hospital multiple times a week to dialyse. You also have more control over when you dialyze, instead of attending booked appointments.
- Fewer dietary and fluid restrictions compared to in-centre dialysis and improved appetite.
According to the Ontario Renal Network, studies show that having treatment at home improves quality of live, with patients feeling their symptoms are better managed.
Information for Patients
To be eligible for home dialysis, a patient must be physically and mentally able to be actively involved in their day-to-day care. Their kidney disease must also be compatible with the methods used for home dialysis as a treatment.
Patients on home dialysis are still required to attend in-person clinic appointments at regular intervals, usually once every few months.
There are two forms of dialysis offered by KHSC:
- Hemodialysis, where blood is filtered through a machine to remove waste and toxins. Cleaned blood is then returned into the bloodstream.
- Peritoneal Dialysis, where the inside lining of your belly acts as a natural filter. Wastes are taken out by a cleaning fluid called dialysate.
Peritoneal Dialysis (PD)
Peritoneal dialysis removes any excess water and waste from your body by using the peritoneal membrane (lining of your belly) as a filter. A catheter (soft plastic tube) is surgically inserted into your belly to allow dialysis fluid to enter. After several hours (during which time the dialysis occurs), the fluid is drained from your body and discarded.
Training for peritoneal dialysis can be done in under a week and includes educational training videos to help guide you through each step.
There are two types of peritoneal dialysis.
Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis
- Approximately two to three litres of dialysis fluid is carried in your belly at all times.
- Manual exchanges are done every few hours and can take from 20 to 45 minutes each time.
Automated or continuous cycler peritoneal dialysis (APD, CCPD)
- The exchanges are done during the night while you sleep using a machine.
- You are required to be attached to the machine every night for eight to ten hours. There will also be additional preparation and clean-up time.
Assisted PD is available for patients who have challenges in doing it on their own. A trained nurse would visit you once or twice a day to assist with equipment set up and clean up. Patients are still required to connect themselves in the evening and manage their treatment overnight independently. The assisted option is available regardless of where you live, whether it’s at home or at a retirement home. Speak with your healthcare team to learn.
The Home Dialysis Assistance Program (HDAP)
While many patients are able to manage their home dialysis care independently or with the help of a family member, some require additional short-term or long-term assistance. As part of the KHSC@Home program, the home dialysis team can coordinate assistance with treatment for eligible patients, through daily visits from a PSW or nurse to help with equipment setup and cleanup. The home dialysis assistance program is only offered for patients on PD.
Peritoneal Dialysis Fact Sheets
The links below explain the basics about your care. Please speak to your renal care team if you have any questions.
Home Hemodialysis (HHD)
Instead of travelling to a clinic or hospital and having a healthcare provider connect you to a machine, you and/or a caregiver learn how to use the dialysis machine at home. Training time varies from person to person but is usually around a total of six weeks. After training, you’ll be able to dialyze at home (ideally at night while you sleep).
Some examples of home hemodialysis schedules are as follows:
- Home nocturnal dialysis: dialysis treatment during sleep, typically 5 nights a week for 6-9 hours.
- Short daily dialysis: ialysis treatment done during waking hours, 6-7 days a week for 2-3 hours.
Home Hemodialysis Fact Sheets
The links below explain the basics about your care. Please speak to your renal care team if you have any questions.
