[Is peritoneal dialysis adequate in the treatment of terminal uremia in aged patients]

In Europe and in the United States, the elderly comprise an increasing segment of the end-stage renal disease population on chronic dialysis. Based on our own experience (84 patients over 75 years treated by PD between 1983 and 1990), the aim of the study was to analyze the advantages and disadvantages of peritoneal dialysis (PD). There are many benefits of PD for elderly patients including less hemodynamic stress than hemodialysis, no need for a vascular access, increased mobility and sense of control over illness, maintenance of residual diuresis. Increasing experience in geriatric PD leads to a better control of problems which may affect the outcome of PD (inability to perform self-dialysis, nutritional abnormalities, peritonitis, bowel dysfunction). PD appears to be an acceptable form of renal replacement therapy in the elderly.