Peritoneal dialysis is a treatment typically ordered by which type of practitioner?

Peritoneal dialysis is a renal replacement therapy primarily used to treat patients with chronic kidney disease or kidney failure. The type of practitioner that typically oversees or orders this treatment is a nephrologist, who specializes in the management of kidney-related diseases. Nephrologists have the expertise to evaluate the patient's condition, determine the appropriateness of peritoneal dialysis, and manage the ongoing care throughout the therapy.

The rationale for a nephrologist ordering peritoneal dialysis extends to various factors, such as the patient's overall medical history, the stage of their kidney disease, and their individual treatment needs. They also play a critical role in educating patients about how to perform the procedure and monitor for potential complications.

While cardiologists, endocrinologists, and hematologists may treat associated conditions or co-morbidities in patients with kidney disease, they do not specialize in renal replacement therapies like peritoneal dialysis, which places them outside the primary decision-making process for this specific treatment.