[Peritoneal dialysis in the newborn (author's transl)]

Area of Science:

• Neonatal Medicine
• Pediatric Nephrology
• Critical Care

Context:

• Neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) face challenges managing critically ill newborns with organ dysfunction.
• Renal failure and severe metabolic disturbances are life-threatening conditions in neonates.
• Established treatment options for these conditions in newborns were limited during the study period.

Purpose:

• To evaluate the efficacy and safety of peritoneal dialysis (PD) in treating neonates with renal failure and/or severe metabolic disturbances.
• To assess PD's role as an integrated therapeutic approach in critically ill newborns.
• To determine the incidence of complications associated with PD in the neonatal population.

Summary:

• Forty PD procedures were performed on 37 neonates (birth weight 1.25-5.6 kg, 8 < 2 kg).
• Indications included renal failure (27 cases) and water/electrolyte imbalances (10 cases).
• PD achieved adequate blood purification and electrolyte balance in most cases, with manageable complications.

Impact:

• Peritoneal dialysis demonstrated to be a simple and highly useful therapeutic method for neonates with renal failure or severe metabolic disturbances.
• The study highlights PD as a viable option for improving outcomes in critically ill newborns with these conditions.
• Findings support the integration of PD into the comprehensive treatment strategies for neonatal critical care.