Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis (CAPD) is done to remove wastes, chemicals, and extra fluid from your body. During CAPD, a liquid called dialysate is put into your abdomen through a catheter (thin tube). The dialysate pulls wastes, chemicals, and extra fluid from your blood through the peritoneum.

CAPD cleans your blood most hours of the day, 7 days a week. And you can walk around, even during exchanges. Exchanges usually take about 30 minutes, commonly 4 times a day and only require a solution bag with tubing attached to it that connects to your catheter. The fluid from the solution bag “dwells” in your abdomen for about 4-6 hours, drawing waste products and excess fluid from the bloodstream. An exchange can be performed in any clean area – at home, work or while traveling.