Challenges and Outcomes of Chronic Dialysis in Children: A Narrative Review

Abstract

Chronic dialysis is a life-saving treatment for children with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). However, it comes with difficult challenges, cardiovascular ones being the most significant and fatal. Chronic kidney disease-mineral bone disorder (CKD-MBD) is also a common complication of chronic dialysis, as it has significant effects on growth and cardiovascular health. Infections are also a significant problem for those on chronic dialysis. The cost of dialysis and the lifestyle of Children with CKD are also not optimal, as they have a significantly lower Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) than children with other chronic illnesses. Children on chronic dialysis face several difficult challenges, which differ between peritoneal dialysis (PD) and hemodialysis (HD). Most of these challenges are manageable or preventable. This review article will discuss some of the challenges that children and their families encounter during chronic dialysis strategies to manage these challenges and the outcomes of long-term kidney dialysis.