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Hundreds of thousands of people in the United States have dialysis care, and while hemodialysis is the most common type, peritoneal dialysis use is increasing. Learn how laparoscopic surgery makes your catheter placement safer and more convenient.
Peritoneal dialysis allows the abdomen to filter extra fluids and waste from the blood in people who have end-stage kidney failure. The goal of treatment is to give you more freedom in your routine and allow you to work and travel without missing critical dialysis treatments.
At Sierra Pacific Surgical, we specialize in laparoscopic catheter placement to support your peritoneal dialysis treatment.
Our highly skilled surgeons have extensive training in robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery techniques to place a catheter without damaging surrounding tissue.
What to know about peritoneal dialysis
Peritoneal dialysis supports the removal of waste from the blood when your kidneys aren’t healthy enough to do the job. It differs from hemodialysis by allowing your blood to be cleaned inside your abdomen, rather than cleaned outside of the body by a machine.
The process requires inserting a catheter (tube) into your abdomen. A cleansing fluid flows through the catheter and into the abdominal lining (peritoneum), which acts like a filter to remove extra fluids and waste from the bloodstream.
Unlike hemodialysis, which requires you to be connected to a machine, peritoneal dialysis offers more independence and convenience. You also have more freedom with your diet because peritoneal dialysis continuously removes sodium and fluids from your body.
Another benefit of peritoneal dialysis over hemodialysis is that we surgically place a catheter in your abdomen, so you don't have a needle inserted in a vein at the start of each treatment.
Advantages of laparoscopic catheter placement
Laparoscopic catheter placement surgery is a minimally invasive technique that requires only small incisions to access the abdomen.
The smaller incisions cause less trauma to the body and minimize damage to surrounding tissue. Small incisions also heal faster and offer less risk of scarring.
Many people tolerate the laparoscopic procedure well and are able to go home after an overnight stay in the hospital. They can start peritoneal dialysis soon after the catheter is in place.
Our skilled surgeons may also be able to perform laparoscopic catheter placement on individuals who had abdominal surgery previously. They use advanced techniques to prevent scar tissue and other complications from occurring.
When to consider laparoscopic surgery for peritoneal dialysis
While not everyone is a candidate for laparoscopic surgery or for peritoneal dialysis, both may be an option if you aren’t coping well with hemodialysis.
Our surgeons can also review your medical history and current health to qualify you for laparoscopic surgery if you’re looking for a treatment option that is more convenient than hemodialysis and you still have some remaining kidney function.
Peritoneal dialysis might not be an option if you have gastrointestinal conditions like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). If you have a hernia, our surgeons may be able to repair it at the same time as your catheter placement.
Sierra Pacific Surgical offers supportive resources to ensure that your catheter surgery goes well. We also monitor the health of your abdominal catheter, so you can continue to use peritoneal dialysis to clean your blood.
Call Sierra Pacific Surgical in Roseville, Folsom, Grass Valley, or Sacramento, California, today to learn more about the benefits of laparoscopic catheter placement. You can also use the online feature to request an appointment.