Periodic Dialysis in Terminal Uremia

Twenty-three patients with end-stage renal failure were treated with periodic hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis during a period of three years. Good results were achieved in ten patients, fair results in five, and poor results in eight. Failure of rehabilitation was attributed to development of disabling complications and lack of sustained patient cooperation. Complications included accelerated hypertension, circulatory congestion, uremic pericarditis, peripheral neuropathy, arthritis, hemorrhage, infection, and difficulties related to indwelling arteriovenous cannulas. Peritoneal dialysis was less effective than hemodialysis and was inevitably associated with serious technical problems when permanent peritoneal conduits were implanted into the abdomen.