Intermittent Peritoneal Dialysis

Abstract

A study has been made of 61 periods of peritoneal dialysis (PD), in 58 patients, Each period lasted 24–36 hours (mean 27.6 hours), using 18–40 litres (mean 27.31) of dialysis fluid per period. Due to technical faults PD was unsuccesful in 5 instances. In the remaining 56 periods of PD mean reduction of blood urea and serum potassium per period were 19.85 mmol/1 and 1.96 mEq/1 respectively. Clinical improvement was observed in 60.6% of patients. Of 11 patients with pulmonary oedema, 9 improved; and one patient with gross generalized oedema responded. Among 17 patients who died in hospital, only one death could be directly attributed to PD. Peritonitis was not encountered following PD. Dialysis for a period not exceeding 36 hours is adequate to avert life-threatening complications of renal failure in most patients. This “short-period” PD will be advantageous in developing countries with limited facilities.