Treatment of Chronic Renal Failure With Periodic Peritoneal Lavage

The cases of 26 patients with terminal renal failure, who no longer responded to conservative management, were evaluated for a program of intermittent peritoneal lavage. Thirteen of these patients were selected for treatment with peritoneal lavage performed once every three weeks with the use of a multiple-puncture technique. It was possible to maintain these patients symptom-free and ambulatory for an average period of six months. No serious complications were encountered with the treatment. The data presented demonstrate that patients with terminal renal failure, who no longer respond to usual treatment, can be supported by intermittent peritoneal lavage provided some residual renal function is present. The presence of 24-hour urine volume of at least 500 cc and a time interval of at least two weeks between the first and need for second peritoneal lavage are the best criteria for assessing the needed residual renal function.