Three exchanges with a 2.5-liter volume for continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis

Abstract

In the present study, we used three exchanges per day with 2.5 liters of dialysis solution. Mainly three concentrations of glucose were used: 1.5%, 2.4%, and 3.3%. Occasionally, a dialysis solution with a 4.2% glucose concentration was used. The total exchange time (diffusion time, cycle time) varied from 2 to 14 hours. The aim of this preliminary study was to ascertain whether such a volume instilled into the peritoneal cavity could be tolerated by patients and could yield sufficient ultrafiltration. The advantages of reducing the frequency of exchanges are selfevident. The most important seem to be greater freedom for patients who can have uninterrupted working and sleeping hours, less time spent to carry out the procedure, and diminished frequency of connections/disconnections, which should decrease the risk of peritonitis.