Home dialysis

Treatments and therapies Dialysis Peritoneal dialysis Hemodialysis Home peritoneal dialysis Home hemodialysis

Last Updated: February 26, 2025

Medically reviewed by NKF Patient Education Team

Learn about home dialysis, the different treatment types, the possible benefits and downsides of home dialysis, and how to decide if home dialysis is right for you.

Table of Contents

Types of home dialysis

Home dialysis is when you do dialysis at your home, instead of at a center. Dialysis is a treatment that helps your body remove extra fluids and waste products from your blood when your kidneys are not able to. There are two different types of home dialysis, home hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis.

Home hemodialysis

Home hemodialysis uses a dialysis machine to clean your blood. Here is how it works:

Step 1: A machine pumps blood out of your body using a tubing.

Step 2: Your blood goes into a filter on the machine, where it is cleaned and extra fluid removed.

Step 3: Your cleaned blood then flows back into your body through another tubing.

Step 4: Connection of your blood to the tubing is done the same way as in-center hemodialysis. The tubing are connected to your body using two needles that go into one of your veins, which has been made larger for this by a surgeon.  It can be also done using a catheter or tube put into the veins in your upper chest if needed. 

Conventional home hemodialysis

Conventional home hemodialysis is when you do treatments with a dialysis machine about 3 times a week. Each treatment takes about 3 - 4 hours, possibly longer. 

Short daily home hemodialysis

Short daily hemodialysis involves shorter but more often treatments than conventional. You do treatments with a dialysis machine about 5 - 7 times a week. Each treatment takes about 2 hours.

Nocturnal home hemodialysis

Nocturnal home dialysis is when you do treatments with a dialysis machine while you are asleep. You do your treatments 6 nights a week or every other night. Each treatment takes about 6 - 8 hours. 

Some centers may monitor your treatment electronically through the dialysis machine.

You may be able to combine short daily and nocturnal home dialysis

By doing both, you might:

  • Take less medicine to control:
    • Blood pressure
    • Anemia
    • Phosphorus levels
  • Have less nerve damage and restless leg syndrome symptoms
  • Feel better during and after dialysis
  • Have more energy
  • Sleep better
  • Have fewer hospital stays
  • Have a better quality of life
  • Live longer

Peritoneal dialysis

Peritoneal dialysis uses the inside lining of your belly as a filter to clean your blood. Here is how it works:

  1. A cleansing fluid (called dialysate) goes through a catheter (a thin, flexible tube) into your belly.
  2. The fluid washes in and out of your belly in cycles to clear your blood of waste and extra fluid.

Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD)

Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) uses only your belly lining to filter your blood. (no electronic machine needed)

Here’s how CAPD works:

  1. You attach a bag of cleansing fluid to a catheter (tube) that goes into your belly. You hold or put the bag up high, so the fluid flows into your belly.
  2. After the fluid has all flowed in, you take the tubing off and throw it away.  You allow the fluid to stay there for a few hours while it filters through your belly lining.
  3. You then attach new tubing with an empty drain bag. You lower the drain bag so the used fluid in your belly drains into it.
  4. You then inflow a new bag of fresh cleansing fluid.   
  5. The tubing and used fluid is again disconnected, then thrown away.

You do this 3 - 5 times every day. You can do CAPD at work, school, or in other places if you have a private room that is clean and a place to sit.

Continuous cycling peritoneal dialysis (CCPD)

Continuous cycling peritoneal dialysis (CCPD) uses your belly lining and a machine to filter your blood at night while you are sleeping. The machine is called an automatic cycler.

Here’s how CCPD works:

  1. The machine fills your belly with the cleansing fluid through a catheter (tube).
  2. The fluid stays there for a while to filter through your belly lining.
  3. The machine drains the used fluid, then refills your belly again with new fluid.
  4. The machine does this process 3 - 5 times a night while you sleep.
  5. The machine drains the used fluid into a long tube hooked onto a toilet or into a bag that you empty in the morning.

Benefits of home dialysis

Compared to getting dialysis treatments at a center, home dialysis may help you:

  • Fit treatments into your schedule better
  • Get your treatment in a more comfortable, familiar environment
  • Eat a wider variety of foods
  • Take less medicine
  • Do more daily activities
  • Work or travel more easily

One benefit of peritoneal dialysis over home hemodialysis is that it controls extra fluid in your body more easily. This means you have less stress on your heart and blood vessels, which can lower your chance of heart attack and stroke.

Things to Consider About Home Dialysis

  • You are in control of your treatment. Unlike in a dialysis center, you will manage your own treatments, giving you more flexibility and independence.
  • A care partner can provide support. A care partner—such as a family member, friend, or trained helper—can assist you with your treatments if needed.
  • Dedicated space is helpful. You’ll need room to store supplies and, if required, a machine for your treatments.
  • Simple cleaning and preparation are part of the routine. If using a machine, you’ll need to set it up and clean it for each treatment, which becomes second nature over time.

Other factors that may affect your ability to do peritoneal dialysis include:

  • Body weight: In some cases, those with a very high body weight may need to explore other dialysis options.
  • Previous abdominal surgeries: Multiple past surgeries on the stomach area may impact how well peritoneal dialysis works.
  • Abdominal health conditions: Some belly or abdominal conditions may make peritoneal dialysis more challenging.
  • Infection prevention is important. There is a small risk of infection (peritonitis), but with proper training and hygiene, this risk can be significantly reduced.

Choosing the right dialysis option

Talk with your care team and care partner about which type of dialysis is right for you. The best choice will depend on your specific health and lifestyle needs.

The most important thing is you are getting the right amount of dialysis that your body needs.

Questions for your healthcare team

  • Is home dialysis right for me and my schedule?
  • What type of home dialysis is best for me?
  • Can I do home dialysis if I have health conditions other than kidney disease?
  • How will I feel after completing a home dialysis treatment?
  • Can I travel while I am on home dialysis?
  • Do I need a care partner for home dialysis?

How helpful was this content?

This content is provided for informational use only and is not intended as medical advice or as a substitute for the medical advice of a healthcare professional.
© 2025 National Kidney Foundation, Inc.