Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis(CAPD) works by using the peritoneal membrane of the body as a filtering unit for waste products elimination.

The peritoneal dialysis exchange procedure consists of 3 steps:

Infusion :A sterile, dialysis solution flows into your peritoneal cavity by gravity via a catheter or tube that has been surgically placed into the abdomen. The filling takes about 10 minutes. Once the filling is complete, the catheter is shut so that it does not leak.

Dwell : The lining of the peritoneal cavity called the peritoneum acts as a natural filter. It lets the waste products and excess fluids in the blood filter through into the dialysis solution, while holding back important substances that the body needs. The length of time varies from 3 - 6 hours. While the solution is in the body you can move about.

Drain : The dialysis solution containing the wastes is drained again by gravity from your body through the catheter into an empty bag. This takes about 10-20 minutes. A bag containing sterile dialysis solution replaces the bag containing waste products. The whole process is then repeated. Each of these replacements is called a ' Bag Exchange'.