Peritoneal dialysis in renal failure associated with spinal cord injury

Nine patients with chronic renal failure associated with long-standing spinal cord injury were treated with peritoneal dialysis for periods ranging from 3 days to 12 months. Indwelling peritoneal catheters and automated peritoneal dialysis machines were used in the majority of cases. The procedure was generally used as an interim measure while awaiting placement or maturation of the blood access for hemodialysis. Several patients, however, underwent peritoneal dialysis for prolonged periods, including a patient who was on home-peritoneal dialysis for 12 months. The main complications resulting from 653 patient-day treatments consisted of six bouts of peritonitis and a single case of bowel perforation. Azotemia, fluid electrolytes and acid-base status were satisfactorily controlled with peritoneal dialysis. The results were comparable with those obtained during hemodialysis. Peritoneal dialysis, therefore, appears to be a reasonable alternative to hemodialysis in the management of chronic renal failure in spinal cord injured patients.