Making the right decision
You may find it reassuring to be well informed in advance; however, we cannot replace talking to your physician. Every decision needs to be made together with your physician. And always remember: your dialysis team is there for you if you get stuck and need more support.
Tips that may support choosing the right therapy
With these tips, we would like to support you on your path to finding the right therapy
Tip 1: Ask questions
Therapy will have a huge impact on your life. Do some research on therapy options, on this website as well as others and ask physicians, nurses, relatives, etc. questions
Tip 2: Involve your loved ones along the way
Your therapy will also affect your loved ones as well. Take them with you to physician's visits or patient meetings. Talk with your loved ones about the challenges of therapy and share your feelings.
Tip 3: Exchange ideas with your physician
Your physician is the first point of contact when choosing your therapy modality. Take advantage of the time you have with your physician and ask questions.
Tip 4: Exchange ideas with your care team
Your dialysis team in the dialysis centre has already gained a lot of experience with the therapies. Use this knowledge and exchange ideas. A talk with an experienced nurse may provide you with valuable insights.
Tip 5: Talk to people who are already being treated
People who are already being treated with kidney replacement therapy have already gained experience. They can share lot of information about each therapy. Ask your physician or dialysis team for contact information.
Tip 6: Take notes about what is important to you
Every therapy has advantages and disadvantages. Take notes about each therapy option and use them to help you decide. Your notes can be the basis for a discussion with your physician. Then talk to your physician about your therapy options and their advantages and disadvantages in a shared decision-making process.
Comparing different options
| CAPD | APD | Home Haemodialysis (HHD) | In-centre Haemodialysis (HD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fewer but regular visits | Fewer but regular visits | Fewer but regular visits | Regular visits required, usually three times a week |
| CAPD | APD | Home Haemodialysis (HHD) | In-centre Haemodialysis (HD) |
|---|---|---|---|
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| CAPD | APD | Home Haemodialysis (HHD) | In-centre Haemodialysis (HD) |
|---|---|---|---|
If the hygienic requirements are met, the bag exchange can also be carried out at the workplace or in a hotel room |
May have less impact on your work during the day, since treatments are mainly performed at night |
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| CAPD | APD | Home Haemodialysis (HHD) | In-centre haemodialysis (HD) |
|---|---|---|---|
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| CAPD | APD | Home Haemodialysis (HHD) | In-centre Haemodialysis (HD) |
|---|---|---|---|
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| CAPD | APD | Home Haemodialysis (HHD) | In-centre Haemodialysis (HD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typically not needed, as dialysis takes place via the peritoneal catheter. | Typically, two needle insertions per treatment with access via fistula/graft or via a catheter. | ||
Staying fit on dialysis
Exercising and peritoneal dialysis
The types of sport and exercise you can do with peritoneal dialysis are largely influenced by the following factors:
- Your general health
- The condition of your catheter exit site
- The amount of fluid that remains in the abdominal cavity during treatment
As a PD patient, you should avoid sports that could put pressure on your abdomen which may later cause problems. This includes martial arts, for example. Because of the risk of infection at the catheter exit site, water sports should also be avoided. Please consult with your physician to find out appropriate options for you.
Exercising and haemodialysis
For haemodialysis, the types of sports and exercise you can do are also largely influenced by different factors:
- Your general state of health
- The type and condition of your vascular access
- The mobility and resilience of the part of the body where your vascular access is placed
To prevent possible complications, you must protect your access well while exercising. For example, you can put on special cuffs for this purpose. Please consult with your physician to find out appropriate options for you.
Don’t forget to discuss the level of your exercise with your physician!
| Peritoneal dialysis | Home haemodialysis | Haemodialysis |
|---|---|---|
| If hygienic requirements are met, bag exchanges can also be performed at your workplace. APD allows for treatment overnight, enabling you to work during the day. PD procedures offer a comparatively high degree of flexibility. | If you perform haemodialysis independently at home, you can decide for yourself when to perform the dialysis sessions. As a result, you are more flexible in the way you practice your profession, even when doing dialysis. | If your haemodialysis treatment takes place at a centre, you would be expected to go to the appointments there. As a result, you can only do your job before or after your dialysis sessions. |
Facts about the different treatment options
Find some answers to further questions related to your treatment options in the next section.
What is an Adverse Event (AE)
Any untoward medical occurrence in a patient or clinical trial subject administered a medicinal product and which does not necessarily have a causal relationship with this treatment [Dir 2001/20/EC Art 2(m)].
An adverse event can therefore be any unfavourable and unintended sign (e.g. an abnormal laboratory finding), symptom, or disease temporarily associated with the use of a medicinal product, whether or not considered related to the medicinal product (Annex 4 Guideline on good pharmacovigilance practices (GVP) Rev 4).
Reporting Side Effects
If you get any side effects, talk to your Doctor, Pharmacist or Nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in the package leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard.
By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
Report an Adverse Event
Adverse events should be reported. Reporting forms and information can be found at www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard. Adverse events should also be reported to Fresenius Medical Care on 01623 445 215 and via medinfo-uk@freseniusmedicalcare.com
Medical Information
Call 01623 445 100 (please choose option 5). Opening times are Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm.
UK/HEMA/FME/0922/0002 – Date of Preparation September 2022.
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