Delivering adequacy in PD therapy

Abstract

Providing appropriate peritoneal dialysis is an ongoing challenge to renal care providers. As the residual renal function and the peritoneal permeability are likely to change with time, the dose provided by the PD regimen needs to be adjusted. Rather than waiting for clinical signs of underdialysis, the practising nephrologist and the PD nurse today have access to diagnostic tools to assist in the prescription of adequate therapy. Peritoneal dialysis prescription involves setting up a personalized dialysis schedule aimed at obtaining satisfactory clearance and ultrafiltration rates while respecting the patient's life-style as far as possible. The PD nurse has the most patient contact and thus plays a pivotal role with the other healthcare professionals in the care of the patients. As providers, it is our responsibility to inform the patients about their own care. As PD is a method of home dialysis, patients must have self responsiveness, technical and psycho social skills to deal well with the method.