Recent studies suggest that the dialysis dose significantly affects survival in acute renal failure (ARF) patients and that bicarbonate dialysate improves acid-base balance during continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT). These data inspired us to use slow continuous dialysis (SCD) in the treatment of ARF. SCD is defined by the following parameters: (a) blood flow (Q(B)) = 100 to 200 ml/min, (b) dialysate flow (Q(D)) = 100 to 300 ml/min, (c) the use of a modified hemodialysis machine with controlled ultrafiltration and online production of bicarbonate-based dialysate, and (d) continuous or extended daily treatment for 8 to 24 hours. SCD provides a urea clearance in the 70 to 80 ml/min range. Preliminary data from an ongoing clinical trial demonstrate the safety, efficiency, and simplicity of the treatment.

Acute Kidney Injury↗

PubMed1997

Laparoscopic salvage of malfunctioning peritoneal catheters.

BACKGROUND: Malfunction of peritoneal catheters due to mechanical outflow problems is an annoying complication in patients undergoing chronic peritoneal dialysis (PD). Correction often involves catheter replacement or revision via laparotomy. METHODS: Twenty-five patients undergoing PD who developed mechanical catheter flow restriction underwent 28 laparoscopic procedures. Preoperative diagnoses were made by contrast catheter radiography and were: catheter sequestration (36%), omental wrap (64%). Pneumoperitoneum was induced after general anesthesia and laparoscopy was performed using a Storz laparoscope. The catheter was then identified and manipulation was attempted using instruments placed percutaneously. RESULTS: In 26 cases (93%), the catheter was freed and function restored. In two cases (7%), adhesions were so numerous and dense that the distal catheter could not be visualized. Four episodes of peritonitis developed subcutaneous leakage of peritoneal fluid which responded to cessation of PD for 2 weeks. Four patients had recurrent occlusions; three of these were managed laparoscopically. Two patients developed late hernias at the site of insertion of the laparoscope. Catheter patency averaged 9.2 months postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic revision is a successful technique for salvage of occluded peritoneal catheters.

Adult↗

PubMed1995

National health work force policy.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Family Practice↗

PubMed1993

Access to health care.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Cost Control↗

PubMed1993

Rapid progression of mitral and aortic stenosis in a patient with secondary hyperparathyroidism.

A 68 year old woman with chronic renal failure on long-term haemodialysis presented with progressive dyspnoea. Serial echocardiography showed a rapid reduction in mitral valve area from 2.18 to 0.92 cm2 over 18 months. In addition, the previously non-stenotic aortic valve was found to be severely stenotic with a valve area of 1.05 cm2. Cardiac catheterisation confirmed these findings. The patient had undergone subtotal parathyroidectomy more than 10 years before but had chemical and clinical evidence consistent with recurrent hyperparathyroidism. The patient underwent successful mitral and aortic valve replacement with relief of symptoms. Rapid progression of both aortic and mitral valve stenosis in the presence of secondary hyperparathyroidism is a rare finding.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Clinical experience with continuous flow and flow-through peritoneal dialysis.

Concern over the inherent inefficiency of solute removal by conventional peritoneal dialysis (PD) has led to renewed interest in continuous flow PD (CFPD). We present clinical data from two experiences with CFPD. In the first, two catheters were used to recirculate a fixed intraperitoneal volume through an external circuit comprised of a standard hemodialysis system. The second patient had a dual-lumen PD catheter and was studied during two sessions of flow-through PD (FTPD) using sterile PD solution. Urea clearances with both techniques were around 30 ml/min, which is consistent with data reported in the literature. Significant streaming of dialysate from port to port within the peritoneal cavity limited clearances. CFPD offers a potentially safe and effective alternative to daily or nightly home hemodialysis.

Catheterization↗

PubMedDate not supplied

A new laparoscopic method for implantation of peritoneal catheters.

The placement of peritoneal catheters by non-surgeons was facilitated by a percutaneous laparoscopic technique ("Y-tec"). We have developed a catheter implantation system that is simpler to use, is less expensive initially and per procedure, and provides greatly enhanced peritoneal visualization. The core of the system is a 4 mm diameter Verres needle, which has a protective spring loaded obturator. This fits within a stainless steel cannula, which is in turn surrounded by a disposable peel away sheath. This entire unit is inserted into the peritoneal cavity through the rectus muscle after blunt dissection. Pneumoperitoneum is optional. The Verres needle is removed and peritoneoscopy is performed with a 5 mm Storz laparoscope. This is withdrawn, followed by the steel cannula, leaving the peel away sheath. The catheter is inserted through this, over a stylet. The sheath is then peeled off and the catheter sutured and tunneled in the usual fashion. This method uses the safest mode of blind peritoneal entry and permits thorough peritoneal inspection, even without insufflation. The needle and cannula are reusable, which minimizes cost. The technique is simple, and early results with inexperienced operators are encouraging.

Catheters, Indwelling↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The incident patient cohort study design with uncontrolled dose. Substantial over-estimation of mortality as a function of peritoneal dialysis dose?

In the Canada-USA (CANUSA) Study, the dialysis dose was neither randomized nor held constant, was measured at 6 month intervals, and the relative risk of mortality (R) was found to correlate linearly to mean values of weekly peritoneal plus renal urea clearance normalized to volume, (KprT/ V)m, ranging from 1.5 to 2.3. A risk/dose (R/D) function was derived for continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis from kinetic criteria for dose equivalency in hemodialysis (HD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD) and the HD R/D function. This PD R/D function was nonlinear with breakpoint from steep to shallow slope at (KprT/V)ud = 2.00, where ud refers to uniform single doses in contrast to mean doses with wide variances on the mean. The predicted decrease in renal urea clearance KrT/V per 6 months of CANUSA follow-up was computed from serial measured KrT/V in the Randomized Dialysis Prescription and Clinical Outcomes Study and showed it to be 0.21 +/- 0.34. The CANUSA (KprT/V)m values were corrected for the distributed values of 3 months decrements in KrT/V, and the population mortality risk at each (KprT/V)m dose level reported in CANUSA was computed from summation of the product of the R/D curve and fractional distribution of (KprT/V)ud values. From these calculations, the authors conclude that maximum (KprT/V)ud level achieved in CANUSA was 2.00, and the study does not define R/D response above this level.

Analysis of Variance↗