Peritoneal dialysis in neonates with acute renal failure.

Abstract

Twenty outborn neonates were dialysed for ARF over a period of two years. Acute gastroenteritis (60%) and septicemia (90%) were the leading cause of ARF. Metabolic encephalopathy and uncompensated metabolic acidosis were present in all, and hyperkalemia in 60 percent of the neonates. Intermittent peritoneal dialysis was the only therapeutic modality employed. The mean duration of oliguria was 2.3 ± 0.8 days in those who recovered. The serum creatinine returned to normal in a mean of 5.7 ± 1.1 days. The clinical profile and renal histology were consistent with acute tubular necrosis in all the neonates. The mortality was 75 percent.