Multidisciplinary training to reduce peritonitis in PD

Researchers in Uruguay developed a tool to assess practical PD skills. They found that one on one lessons, retraining, and group meetings for PD patients cut the peritonitis rate nearly in half.

Read the abstract » | (added 2013-02-27)

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Alert: Icodextrin PD fluid can mask hypoglycemia

A case report of an 80 year old man in the emergency room highlights the need for healthcare providers to be aware of the impact of icodextrin PD fluid on blood sugar. Handheld glucose meters can overestimate blood sugar. A lab test can verify blood sugar if symptoms of hypoglycema are present and the glucometer reading is normal.

Read the abstract » | (added 2013-02-27)

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Mortality patterns in PD & home HD differ from standard in-center HD

In the Australian dialysis database (ANZDATA), 4,298 deaths on PD and 10,338 on HD were analyzed for patterns. Patients who did PD, home HD, or in-center HD more than 3 days per week were equally likely to die on any day of the week. Not so for standard in-center HD patients: they were significantly more likely to die from heart-related reasons on Monday, after the 2-day no-treatment weekend.

Read the abstract » | (added 2013-02-27)

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New from Australia: Outcomes of extended HD (mainly done at home)

In a series of 286 people doing extended HD, 96% received their treatments at home, and 77% did them at night. Survival was 98% at 1 year, 92% at 3 years, and 83% at 5 years.

Read the abstract » | (added 2013-02-27)

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When choosing a treatment option, lifestyle is what matters to patients

A metaanalysis found 16 studies of how people with late-stage CKD choose what type of dialysis to do. Common elements included the life-or-death nature of ESRD; minimal intrusion of treatment into quality of life, autonomy, values, and sense of self; and making informed choices.

Read the abstract » | (added 2013-01-25)

Tags: Chronic kidney disease

Surgery to fix PD catheters in place is safe, effective

PD catheters that move around in the belly can be painful and may stop working. Korean doctors compared 22 PD catheters placed by a laparoscopic technique that fixed them in place to 32 placed by open surgery. The age and sex of both groups was the same, and the fixing technique took longer to do. But, 29 months later, the fixed catheters were much less likely to move (13.6% vs. 65.6%). Both techniques had the same catheter and patient survival.

Read the abstract » | (added 2013-01-25)

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What does glucose in PD fluid have to do with artery calcification?

Quite a bit, it appears. Among 50 people doing PD who did not have diabetes, about half had coronary artery calcification. Those who used more higher glucose PD fluids were more likely to have the problem, as were men with a history of heart disease, and those who did not get enough PD.

Read the abstract » | (added 2013-01-25)

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If at first you don't succeed with PD...it still costs less than in-center HD

A 4-year Canadian study has found that over a 3-year period, the cost of starting on PD and then switching to HD ($114,503) is still much less than doing standard in-center HD ($175,996). But starting and continuing PD is the lowest cost dialysis option ($58,724).

Read the abstract » | (added 2013-01-25)

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PD + C + E = reduced oxidative stress

We need oxygen to live. But, too much of a good thing can cause heart and blood vessel damage, and, if you do PD, damage your peritoneum. What can help? Among 20 people doing PD, supplements of the antioxidants vitamins C and E improved measures of oxidative stress, compared to 10 healthy volunteers who did not take the vitamins. (Ask your nephrologist if this is wise for you.)

Read the abstract » | (added 2013-01-25)

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Review: survival on intensive HD vs. transplant

Canadian researcher Robert Pauly reviews the literature on survival with short daily and nocturnal HD, and compares it to kidney transplant survival.

Read the abstract » | (added 2013-01-25)

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