“I will weigh myself daily and keep track of my weight in my dialysis record.”
🟣Daily weights taken under consistent conditions (same scale, time of day, clothing) are the most sensitive bedside indicator of net fluid balance during CAPD.
🟣A sudden gain (e.g., >1–2 kg in 24–48 hr) signals fluid overload or inadequate ultrafiltration, prompting review of dwell time, fill volumes, and dextrose concentration.
🟣Trending weight in a dialysis log enables the team to correlate changes with effluent volumes, residual urine output, diet/sodium intake, and symptoms (edema, dyspnea).
🟣Accurate tracking supports early intervention (e.g., higher dextrose dialysate, dietary adjustment, evaluation for catheter issues) to prevent pulmonary edema or hospitalization.
🟣Emphasizing weight trend + symptoms + outputs provides a comprehensive picture of volume status and CAPD adequacy.
“I will check my blood pressure and follow the instructions related to changes I might need to do based on the results.”
🟣Blood pressure (BP) is a direct proxy for intravascular volume; hypertension typically reflects volume excess, while symptomatic hypotension can follow excess ultrafiltration.
🟣Routine home BP monitoring—documented alongside daily weight and symptoms—helps distinguish true volume issues from medication or dietary factors (e.g., sodium intake).
🟣Clear parameters (for example, SBP >160–170 mmHg or <90 mmHg, or new dizziness, syncope) should trigger contact with the dialysis team for prescription or diet adjustments.
🟣Timely responses to abnormal BP prevent end-organ strain (cardiac, cerebrovascular) and support safe titration of antihypertensives in parallel with dialysis changes.
🟣Integrating BP trends into the care plan strengthens self-management, reduces acute care visits, and improves long-term cardiovascular outcomes in PD patients.
“I must wash my hands every time before I connect the tubing to the catheter in my stomach.”
🟣Peritonitis is the leading CAPD complication and most often results from touch contamination at the connect/disconnect steps.
🟣Meticulous hand hygiene (soap and water with proper friction and drying or approved sanitizer) and aseptic technique before every exchange dramatically lower infection risk.
🟣Education should include preparing a clean field, minimizing talking/coughing during connection, and following any mask policy per program protocol.
🟣Early recognition of peritonitis warning signs—cloudy effluent, abdominal pain, fever, nausea—and immediate reporting allows prompt cultures and intraperitoneal antibiotics, preserving the peritoneal membrane.
🟣Consistent infection-prevention steps protect dialysis adequacy, reduce hospitalizations, and prolong technique survival on PD.