Dialysis in the management of pregnant patients with renal insufficiency.

Successful pregnancy in patients on dialysis is uncommon because of a high rate of infertility and complications. The use of hemodialysis to manage pregnant patients needing dialysis has been well reported. However, to our knowledge, only 2 previous cases of pregnant patients using chronic ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) have been reported. We discuss 14 pregnancies in 13 women in whom dialysis was used in the management of their pregnancies. Ten pregnancies were successful. Included are 5 successful pregnancies out of 8 managed with CAPD or chronic cycling peritoneal dialysis (CCPD). In comparing the cases managed with CAPD to those managed with hemodialysis, CAPD seems to offer several advantages. These include a more constant biochemical and extracellular environment for the fetus, higher hematocrit levels, infrequent episodes of hypotension, and no heparin requirement. In addition, intraperitoneal insulin facilitates the management of blood glucose in diabetics, and intraperitoneal magnesium facilitates the management of premature labor. Infection, loss of intraperitoneal volume, and loss of peritoneal clearances for solutes and water were not found to be problems.