I have never seen a peritoneal dialysis machine. I was wondering for a patient that chose to do it sleeping--how does the bag of fluid lower to drain the toxins etc. I thought they can do it in the comfort of their own home. Just curious if that systems can do the lowering on its own.

Thank you!

There's no machine, it's a bag setup with a drain bag and dialysate bag (think huge IV fluid bag) that hangs from a pole. They are connected by tubing. There is a port on the patients abdomen that is connected (sterile) to the PD infusion/transfer set. What was previously instilled in the last transfer is first drained out into the drain bag. Then that is clamped and the new dialysate is unclamped and instilled into the abdomen. That sits and dialysis occurs within the abdominal cavity for a prescribed period of time. The the process is repeated.

Try a google search to see images of the supplies and it might make it easier for you.

go to youtube and search for it. There are people who have filmed their set ups and how it works. I looked that stuff up when I was learning that. It's pretty amazing how it does work and I find seeing it helps me understand and retain

There's no machine it's a bag setup with a drain bag and dialysate bag (think huge IV fluid bag) that hangs from a pole. They are connected by tubing. There is a port on the patients abdomen that is connected (sterile) to the PD infusion/transfer set. What was previously instilled in the last transfer is first drained out into the drain bag. Then that is clamped and the new dialysate is unclamped and instilled into the abdomen. That sits and dialysis occurs within the abdominal cavity for a prescribed period of time. The the process is repeated.[/quote']

Not true, this is the simplest way to do to it. But many patients she a machine called a cycler that runs for many hours and uses several different bags of dialysate which the machine changes, instills, and drains on it's own, usually while the patient is asleep overnight.

Thank you. Thats what I thought! Also looked it up in google images

There's no machine, it's a bag setup with a drain bag and dialysate bag (think huge IV fluid bag) that hangs from a pole. They are connected by tubing. There is a port on the patients abdomen that is connected (sterile) to the PD infusion/transfer set. What was previously instilled in the last transfer is first drained out into the drain bag. Then that is clamped and the new dialysate is unclamped and instilled into the abdomen. That sits and dialysis occurs within the abdominal cavity for a prescribed period of time. The the process is repeated.

I've only seen peritoneal dialysis once in the home and there definitely was a machine. It was GIANT. There were separate bags for the dialysate and drainage and the machine cycled over the course of an hour. This was on an infant. It infused the dialysate over a prescribed amount of time, let it dwell for a certain amount of time and then drained it over a set amount of time. The baby got, I believe, 12 cycles over the course of 12 hrs overnight. The mom had to set it up and start the machine but then it did all the work overnight.

That's interesting to learn there is a machine for PD. I suppose in my region it's more common for people to do the ambulatory version because that's all I've ever done on my PD patients.

Gee, wouldn't you feel more comfortable if the kiddo and the (presumably) nurse were wearing gloves/mask while the connector is being manipulated, and there were some evidence of betadine or other cleaning going on here? Peritonitis with PD is soooooo nasty...