[Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis]

Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) is an established effective method of maintenance dialysis in patients with end-stage renal failure. Because many of these patients refuse to return hemodialysis, it is essential to develop more techniques to overcome the problems inherent in CAPD. There were 143,709 patients currently undergoing dialysis including 7,509 (5.2%) patients on CAPD in Japan. Renal transplantation is uncommon (700-800 per year), and it is likely that CAPD is of more value than in western countries as a dialysis technique. The utilization rate of PD remain still 5.2%. However, there are a lot of advantages in CAPD in such as good QOL, good biocompatibility and good preservation of residual renal function. We should choose CAPD as a first line therapy in ESRD patients.