Historical Milestones in Peritoneal Dialysis

Abstract

Two and a half centuries have passed since the therapeutic use of peritoneal cavity for the treatment of ascites by peritoneal lavage was reported. George Ganter was the first to describe the use of peritoneal dialysis (PD) in humans. This chapter will describe the various milestones in the field of PD achieved over the years. These include the understanding of solute and water transport across the peritoneal membrane, developments in PD technique and technology, progress in the prevention and treatment of infections, and other important milestones.