[Regional service for dialysis and kidney-transplantation in children (author's transl)]

Children with renal failure should be treated in specialized pediatric centres. In October 1977 we initiated a pediatric dialysis unit at the university of Essen, as there were no special facilities for this area (Ruhr). In 18 months 24 children with end-stage renal failure and 15 children with acute renal failure or severe poisoning had to be treated. We performed 2300 hemodialyses and 400 peritonealdialyses; 12 children got a transplant. The pediatric dialysis unit of Essen has all facilities for treatment of children with acute and chronic renal failure. The documented results were possible by cooperation with all specialists of our hospital and with the neighbouring pediatric dialysis centres.