How does peritoneal dialysis remove wastes from the body?

In the context of renal system disease, peritoneal dialysis functions by utilizing the patient's own abdominal cavity as a container for a specialized fluid.1

The process involves the following steps:
* A sterile fluid is introduced into the abdominal cavity.1
* The fluid is allowed to reach equilibrium, during which time waste products such as urea and other dissolved substances diffuse from the body into the fluid.21
* The fluid, now containing the removed wastes, is then drained and removed from the body.1

This technique is suitable for the treatment of both acute and chronic renal failure. Unlike hemodialysis, which requires an external machine to filter blood through a semipermeable membrane, peritoneal dialysis leverages the body's natural membranes within the abdomen to facilitate the exchange of waste materials. New techniques have also enabled many patients to perform this procedure independently for limited periods.12