Initial Experiences with Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis

Abstract

Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) has been initiated on 51 patients: 27 females (mean age-43.9 yr) and 24 males (mean age-46.4 yr). This group was observed for a total of 1420 patient wk of treatment (27.3 patient yr). Thirty-six episodes of peritonitis were noted among 19 patients. The overall incidence was 1 episode/39.4 patient wk. Recurrent episodes of peritonitis resulted in discontinuation of CAPD in 5 (9.8%) of the patients. Three (5.9%) of the patients were unable to continue with CAPD because of its inability to control extracellular fluid balance. In the patients who transferred from intermittent peritoneal dialysis of CAPD, there was a 4.5 mg/dl drop in serum creatinine and a 34 mg/dl drop in mean BUN [blood urea N] values. There was a rise of approximately 2 g in the Hb levels of this group of patients. If the problem of peritonitis can be solved, CAPD will become the dialytic treatment of choice for the majority of patients with end-stage renal disease.