[Peritoneal dialysis : what the general practitioner should know about peritoneal dialysis]

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) has often been considered as a renal replacement method that is not feasible for the elderly population. Numerous recent studies have shown that this method is in fact very well, if not better tolerated by elderly patients. In Switzerland and abroad, its economic advantages have also been underlined during the past ten years. As a consequence, the use of PD is increasing, and primary care physicians are more often confronted to PD patients. Therefore, they have to be aware of some basic treatment principles, which are reviewed in this article.