[Clinical assessment of CAPD (continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis) for chronic end-stage renal failure]

Eight patients of end stage renal failure were placed under CAPD (Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis) therapy in our institution. The main indications were difficulty or lack of vascular access. The therapeutic duration ranged from 15 to 2 months and the results described-below were obtained. BUN, Serum Creatinine were well controlled. Hemoglobin & hematocrit increased significantly in most cases. Removal of water and salt was satisfactory. Consequently, limitation of water and salt became unnecessary in all cases. So far protein loss seemed to be a lesser problem, which could be overcome by an adequate protein intake. Catheter troubles and peritonitis were observed in 3 cases respectively but none became the reason for an immediate interruption of CAPD. General well-beings of the CAPD patients improved in a definite degree subjectively and objectively CAPD has been gaining surprisingly fast popularity all over the world but many questions remain presently unanswered: (1) Catheter trouble and peritonitis (long-term survival of the technique) (2) Adequacy of the dialysate constitution (3) Physiological changes of the peritoneum in long-term CAPD (4) Metabolic changes of CAPD patients (5) Drug Kinetics etc. These problems were briefly discussed.