Abstract
There were total of 123 patients treated with peritoneal dialysis at our department between the years 2009 and 2018. Out of these, 41 patients started dialysis without being previously followed by nephrologist. 64 patients underwent renal transplantation. 13 patients were transferred to haemodialysis due to hyperhydratation or inadequacy of dialysis, 11 of them underwent successful renal transplantation in the following months.
Out of the patients on peritoneal dialysis, 21 patients died and two more died after being transferred to haemodialysis. The group of transplanted patients contained more patients of younger age, less patients with diabetes and had less patients with comorbidities.
Levels of albumin, haemoglobin and CRP remained stable, except in the patients who died during the followed period. Incidence of peritonitis was 1/42 months of treatment.
Peritoneal dialysis catheter had to be removed due to infectious complication in 9 patients. Patients with infection were older, more often with diabetes and they also had lower levels of albumin and higher levels of CRP at the end of the treatment when compared to patients without infectious complications.
There was no difference between the patients who were previously followed at outpatient nephrology clinic and those who were not. Peritoneal dialysis is a suitable method of treatment for patients indicated to renal transplantation and it is a method of choice also for the patients not previously followed by nephrologist.
Urgent peritoneal dialysis shortens the period of haemodialysis treatment via central venous catheter, thus reducing the risk of infectious complications. Older patients, patients with diabetes and patients with comorbidities are at higher risk of infectious complications and the choice of type of dialysis should be based on individual decision in these cases.