[First observations with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (author's transl)].

Continuous ambulatory peritoneal diaglysis (CAPD) represents a new method for treatment of chronic renal failure whereby patients carry two litres of dialysate with them permanently and are freely mobile. Dialysis is only interrupted by exchange of dialysate in approximately 6-hourly intervals. Due to the long presence of the dialysate in the peritoneal cavity clearance values are superior to intermittent peritoneal dialysis for small-molecular substances and reach elimination values of haemofiltration for medium-molecular substances. The main technical requirements consist of a permanent peritoneal dialysis catheter linked to a plastic dialysate bag by way of a connecting tube. In order to avoid frequent change of bag and thus increased risk of peritonitis bags are folded and carried on the body of the patient during the interval. Thereafter the bag is unfolded, filled with used dialysate and exchanged for a new bag. Six patients were thus treated for over 34 patient-months so far. Changes of chemical pathology were readily acceptable. Even though CAPD has several advantages over conventional dialysis as they are mainly founded on the high degree of rehabilitation of patients, risk of peritonitis is still a considerable factor of uncertainty.