Continuous peritoneal dialysis in children.

During the period from June 1985 to December 1991, 48 children were treated with continuous peritoneal dialysis (CPD) in our centre because of acute renal failure. The median age was 1.8 years (range 0.01-17.1). The most common diagnoses were: hemolytic uremic syndrome (n = 22), anuria after cardiac surgery (n = 7), and septicemia with multiorgan failure (n = 7). Kidney function recovered in 35 (73%); 13 (27%) died of their original disease. One further patient with HUS recovered from dialysis but died of cerebral complications shortly afterwards. One patient remained anuric and requires renal replacement therapy. Hyperkalemia, when present initially, and uremia could be controlled adequately in all cases. However, ultrafiltration posed problems when cardiac output was low. Peritonitis occurred in 11 patients; in 8 children the Tenckhoff catheter had to be revised because of leakage (5), flow problems (2), or bowel perforation (1). CPD proved to be an excellent method to treat acute renal failure in children of all age groups. The rate of complications was acceptable.