Oral Care
Main Line Health dentists and oral surgeons can help you keep a healthy smile for a lifetime by visiting one of our locations throughout the Philadelphia area.
People with kidney failure who are on peritoneal dialysis (PD), a type of dialysis involving cleansing of the blood without removing it from the body, will undergo a peritoneal equilibration test (PET) within a month or two after starting PD. The goal of the PET is to determine how well the peritoneal membrane, which lines the abdomen and helps filter waste and excess fluids from the body, is working.
During peritoneal dialysis a fluid consisting of sugar (dextrose), salt and other minerals dissolved in water is passed into the abdominal cavity by way of a catheter. The dextrose draws waste and fluids from the blood vessels in the peritoneum and also prevents waste from passing back through. The liquid mix of waste and fluid is then drained out of the abdomen. The entire filling and removal process is called an exchange.
A PET measures:
These factors are an indication of how large or small the pores of your peritoneal membrane are and whether you’re a high, average or low “transporter,” which refers to how quickly or slowly your blood is cleansed during peritoneal dialysis. With this understanding your doctor can then determine how many exchanges you’ll need per day, what type of dialysis fluid to use and how long it should “dwell” or remain in your abdomen.
Main Line Health dentists and oral surgeons can help you keep a healthy smile for a lifetime by visiting one of our locations throughout the Philadelphia area.
Weight loss solutions are available at Main Line Health. Explore your bariatric surgery options today at locations throughout the Philadelphia area.
The board-certified experts at Main Line Health can help develop treatments to control and manage your allergy and asthma symptoms.
Main Line Health provides life-saving care and urgent support at trauma centers located throughout the Philadelphia region.
Orthopaedic doctors at Main Line Health treat simple to complex sports and accident-related injuries as well as the painful effects of many conditions that limit your mobility and cause pain. Find an orthopaedic surgeon near me.
Receive inclusive LGBTQ+ medical care at Main Line Health in a compassionate and welcoming space at locations in the Philadelphia region.
Learn how Main Line Health pediatricians collaborate with CHOP subspecialty doctors to provide the utmost optimal care for children.
Discover how Main Line Health neurosurgeons provide expert care, from routine to complex spinal and nervous system conditions for patients.