Peritoneal Dialysis Experience Research Articles

Effect of End-Stage Renal Disease Prospective Payment System on Utilization of Peritoneal Dialysis in Patients with Kidney Allograft Failure

Introduction: The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services introduced an End-Stage Renal Disease Prospective Payment System (PPS) in 2011 to increase the utilization of home dialysis modalities, including peritoneal dialysis (PD). Several studies have shown a significant increase in PD utilization after PPS implementation. However, its impact on patients with kidney allograft failure remains unknown. Methods: We conducted an interrupted time series analysis using data from the US Renal Data System (USRDS) that include all adult kidney transplant recipients with allograft failure who started dialysis between 2005 and 2019. We compared the PD utilization in the pre-PPS period (2005–2010) to the fully implemented post-PPS period (2014–2019) for early (within 90 days) and late (91–365 days) PD experience. Results: A total of 27,507 adult recipients with allograft failure started dialysis during the study period. There was no difference in early PD utilization between the pre-PPS and the post-PPS period in either immediate change (0.3% increase; 95% CI: −1.95%, 2.54%; p = 0.79) or rate of change over time (0.28% increase per year; 95% CI: −0.16%, 0.72%; p = 0.18). Subgroup analyses revealed a trend toward higher PD utilization post-PPS in for-profit and large-volume dialysis units. There was a significant increase in PD utilization in the post-PPS period in units with low PD experience in the pre-PPS period. Similar findings were seen for the late PD experience. Conclusion: PPS did not significantly increase the overall utilization of PD in patients initiating dialysis after allograft failure.

Residents’ satisfaction and suggestions to improve nephrology residency in Italy, and comparison with the organization in other European countries

BackgroundIn Italy, nephrology residency is available in twenty-one nephrology schools, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. The present study is aimed at exploring the residents’ satisfaction with their training programs.MethodsBetween April 20th and May 19th, 2021, a questionnaire on residency satisfaction consisting of 49 items was sent to 586 residents and 175 recently certified specialists (qualified to practice as nephrologists in 2019 and 2020), with a response rate of 81% and 51%, respectively.The teaching organization was contextualized with a survey involving 13 European nephrology schools.ResultsMost residency fellowship programs received a good rating with regard to “satisfaction”, in particular for the following items: number of hospitalizations followed-up, chronic hemodialysis training, follow-up of transplanted patients, diagnosis and treatment of glomerulonephritis. The teachings that were identified as being of lower quality or insufficient intensity included vascular access management, ultrasound diagnostics and renal nutrition. The need for improvement in formal teaching programs was underlined. Young nephrologists were rather satisfied with their salary and with the quality of the work they were doing, but only few were interested in an academic career since it was generally held that it is “too difficult” to obtain a university position. Many young nephrologists who filled in the questionnaire felt that lack of experience in peritoneal dialysis and vascular access management was a barrier to finding an ideal job. Compared to other European training programs, the Italian program differs with regard to longer exposure to nephrology (as compared to internal medicine), and greater flexibility for internships in different settings, including abroad.ConclusionsThis first nationwide survey on the satisfaction of residents in nephrology indicates that, despite rather good overall satisfaction, there is room for improvement to make nephrology a more appealing choice and to fulfill the needs of a growing number of renal disease patients.Graphical abstract

Modifiable Physical Factors That Influence Physical Function for People Receiving Peritoneal Dialysis

People receiving peritoneal dialysis experience physical function decline, impairing their ability to complete everyday activities, leading to poorer quality of life. Physical factors, including cardiorespiratory fitness, muscle strength, physical activity, and sedentary behavior are associated with physical function. However, little is known about this relationship, or temporal changes of these factors in this cohort. This study aimed to explore modifiable physical factors that are associated with physical function, identify which factor has the strongest influence, and explore temporal changes. Adults receiving peritoneal dialysis underwent objective and self-reported physical function, cardiorespiratory fitness, muscle strength, physical activity and sedentary behavior assessments 3 times over a 12-month observation period (at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months). Eighty-two participants underwent assessments. All modifiable physical factors were predominantly moderate to strongly associated with physical function at baseline. Cardiorespiratory fitness had the strongest and most consistent influence with every meter conferring a 0.08-unit (P< 0.01) and 0.01-unit (P< 0.05) increase in self-report and objective physical function score, respectively. Temporal changes were observed for modifiable physical factors with significant mean changes in cardiorespiratory fitness (-9.8%), quadricep strength (-5%), moderate-to-vigorous (-25.9%) and total (-16.2%) physical activity, and sedentary behavior (+7.1%). The results of this study indicate that cardiorespiratory fitness could be routinely monitored to detect risk of physical function decline and targeted through intervention to enhance physical function for people receiving peritoneal dialysis. Nevertheless, all factors should be considered when designing interventions to mitigate temporal changes and induce the numerous health benefits offered by being physically active.

Ecological Momentary Assessment to Explore Fatigue, Mood, and Physical Activity Levels in People Receiving Peritoneal Dialysis

Fatigue is a frequent and debilitating symptom that contributes to poor quality of life for people receiving peritoneal dialysis. Ecological momentary assessment using mobile technology (mEMA) is a novel survey technique that can collect symptom data in real-time and has not been trialed in a peritoneal dialysis cohort. The study aimed to explore real-time fluctuations and associations between fatigue, mood, and physical activity using mEMA. Adults receiving peritoneal dialysis completed fatigue and mood scales, via a mobile application (app), 5 times daily for 7 days and, concurrently wore an accelerometer. A feasibility questionnaire was completed on the eighth day. Forty-eight adults completed the study. Within-day fatigue fluctuations were observed with severity lowest during mid-morning to early afternoon and peaking at bedtime. Associations between fatigue and mood were observed with a 1-unit change in mood score conferring a 5.2-unit change in fatigue (P< 0.01). Higher volume of physical activity was associated with lower fatigue and enhanced mood. Overall adherence to the app-based surveys was 73% with most participants reporting mobile phones and the mEMA app being easy to use. People receiving peritoneal dialysis experience within day and day-to-day fluctuations in fatigue that appear highly variable. Higher fatigue severity was associated with poorer mood and lower physical activity levels with future studies required to explore if physical activity-based interventions could be a potential strategy for the management of these symptoms. Furthermore, mEMA, and mobile phones, were feasible to capture symptom data with potential to be employed in future research or, as part of improved care.

Utilising low-cost, easy-to-use microscopy techniques for early peritonitis infection screening in peritoneal dialysis patients

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients are at high risk for peritonitis, an infection of the peritoneum that affects 13% of PD users annually. Relying on subjective peritonitis symptoms results in delayed treatment, leading to high hospitalisation costs, peritoneal scarring, and premature transition to haemodialysis. We have developed and tested a low-cost, easy-to-use technology that uses microscopy and image analysis to screen for peritonitis across the effluent drain tube. Compared to other technologies, our prototype is made from off-the-shelf, low-cost materials. It can be set up quickly and key stakeholders believe it can improve the overall PD experience. We demonstrate that our prototype classifies infection-indicating and healthy white blood cell levels in clinically collected patient effluent with 94% accuracy. Integration of our technology into PD setups as a screening tool for peritonitis would enable earlier physician notification, allowing for prompt diagnosis and treatment to prevent hospitalisations, reduce scarring, and increase PD longevity. Our findings demonstrate the versatility of microscopy and image analysis for infection screening and are a proof of principle for their future applications in health care.

Improving acute peritoneal dialysis outcome with use of soft peritoneal dialysis catheter (Cook Mac-Loc Multipurpose Drainage catheter®) among infants < 1500g in a low resource setting.

Despite its utility, uncertainty exists on the feasibility of acute peritoneal dialysis (PD) and optimal PD catheter type for very low birth weight (VLBW < 1500g) and extremely low birth weight (ELBW < 1000g) infants. We hereby report our experience of acute PD among these high-risk infants and compare the outcome between stylet-based rigid catheter (SRC) and Cook Mac-Loc Multipurpose Drainage catheters® (CMMDC). Case notes of infants < 1500g undergoing PD between 2012 and 2021 in a network of five participating neonatal units supported by a tertiary paediatric nephrology centre in Kolkata, India, were retrospectively reviewed. PD was conducted either with SRC or after 2018 with CMMDC. Outcome parameters included complications, survival during PD, and survival to discharge. 24 infants (VLBW: n = 13 and ELBW: n = 11) underwent PD at median age 4.5days (IQR 3-6) with either CMMDC (n = 14) or SRC (n = 10). Significant improvement in biochemical parameters and fluid removal was seen in both ELBW and VLBW infants. CMMDC was associated with significantly fewer PD-related complications 7/14 (50%) vs. 9/10 (90%) (p = 0.04) and higher survival during PD 13/14 (93%) vs. 5/10 (50%) (p = 0.02), without significant difference in survival to hospital discharge 8/14 (57%) vs. 3/10 (30%) (p = 0.25). CMMDC also enabled longer duration of PD, higher ultrafiltration, and better control of acidosis. Consumable cost was higher for CMMDC (USD$60) than SRC (USD$14). In a low resource setting, CMMDC had lower PD complications and superior short-term survival among ELBW/VLBW infants. A higher resolution version of the Graphical abstract is available as Supplementary information.

Clinical Profile, Outcomes, and Complications in Neonates Undergoing Peritoneal Dialysis in a Tertiary Neonatal Care Unit - An Observational Study.

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is the most common form of renal replacement therapy in neonates and there is a lot of heterogeneity in patient selection and outcomes across the various units. This study aimed to assess the indications, complications, and outcomes in terms of survival of PD. This is a retrospective study of 23 neonates who underwent acute PD at a tertiary care neonatal unit between August 2016 and July 2021. A cross-sectional poll was also conducted among the doctors who have been in the unit for the past 10 years regarding their experience in PD. The baseline, clinical, biochemical parameters, outcomes, and complications were analyzed. All statistical analyses were performed using the IBM SPSS Statistics version 23.0 software. The mean (±standard deviation) gestational age and birth weights of neonates were 32.6 ± 4 weeks and 1743 ± 922 g, respectively. Six (26%) babies had extremely low birth weight, five (22%) very low birth weight (VLBW), and seven (30%) low birth weight. The indications were acute kidney injury [17/23 (74%)], fluid overload [3/23 (17%)], suspected inborn errors of metabolism [2/23 (9%)] and hypernatremia [1/23 (4%)]. A pigtail catheter (74%) was used in most of them. Catheter block was noticed in four babies and peritonitis in two neonates. We did not encounter any complications during the procedure, and PD appears to be practicable across all gestational ages and birth weights.

Contextualizing the FHN Nocturnal Trial a Decade Later: How Nocturnal Home Hemodialysis Is Performed Matters to Outcomes.

Long, frequent hemodialysis (HD) was thought to be a sound treatment because of improved clearance of uremic toxins and control of extracellular fluid volume. After all, no solute or volume control is tantamount to no dialysis, and whatever its shortcomings, dialysis does keep people alive. The

POS-634 COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF CLINICAL RESULTS BETWEEN ON-SITE ATTENTION (BEFORE COVID19 PANDEMIA) AND TELEMETRIC ATTENTION (DURING PANDEMIA) OF A PERITONEAL DIALYSIS COHORT. LA SERENA. CHILE

During the Covid19 pandemia (CV19), patient care with RRT has undergone dramatic changes. CV19 lethality in Peritoneal Dialysis (PD) is greater than general population. We present our experience in PD, in changing the attention model and its clinical results.

Maintaining the Uptake of Peritoneal Dialysis During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Research Letter.

Background:Due to inherent challenges in maintaining physical distancing in hemodialysis units, the Canadian Society of Nephrology has recommended peritoneal dialysis as the preferred modality for patients requiring maintenance dialysis during the coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic. However, pursuing peritoneal dialysis is not without risk due to the requirement for in-person contact during catheter insertion and training, and there is a paucity of data regarding the experience of peritoneal dialysis during the early phases of the pandemic.Objective:To examine the incidence and outcomes of peritoneal dialysis between March 17 and June 01, 2020 compared to the same time period in preceding years.Design:Retrospective observational study.Setting:British Columbia, Canada. After the pandemic was declared on March 17, 2020, patients continued to be trained in peritoneal dialysis. In an effort to limit time spent in hospital, patients were preferentially trained in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis, training times were truncated for some patients, and peritoneal dialysis catheters were inserted by a physician at the bedside whenever feasible.Patients:All patients aged >18 years who started chronic maintenance dialysis during the period March 17 to June 01 in the years 2018 to 2020 inclusive. The time period was extended to include the years 2010 to 2020 inclusive to evaluate longer term trends in dialysis incidence.Measurements:A provincial clinical information system was used to capture the date of commencing dialysis, dialysis modality, and complications including peritonitis. Overall uptake of peritoneal dialysis included new starts and transitions to peritoneal dialysis from in-center hemodialysis during the observation period.Methods:The incidence of dialysis during the specified time period, overall and by modality, was calculated per million population using census figures for the population at risk. Patients were followed for a minimum of 30 days from the start of peritoneal dialysis to capture episodes of peritonitis and COVID-19.Results:A total of 211 patients started maintenance dialysis between March 17 and June 01, 2020. The incidence dialysis rate (41.3 per million population) was lower than that expected based on the 10-year trend from 2010 to 2019 inclusive (expected rate 45.7 per million population, 95% confidence interval 41.7 to 50.1). A total of 93 patients started peritoneal dialysis, including 32 patients who transitioned from in-center hemodialysis, contributing to a higher overall uptake of peritoneal dialysis compared to preceding years. The incidence rate for peritoneal dialysis of 18.2 per million population was higher than that expected (16.3 per million population, 95% confidence interval 14.0 to 19.0). Half of patients (48%) underwent a bedside peritoneal dialysis catheter insertion by a physician. During 30 days of follow-up, 2 (2.2%) patients experienced peritonitis and no patients were diagnosed with COVID-19.Limitations:Results are short term and generalizable only to regions with similarly low community rates of transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2.Conclusions:These preliminary findings indicate that peritoneal dialysis can be safely started and perhaps expanded as a means of mitigating the anticipated surge in in-center hemodialysis during the COVID-19 pandemic. Important contributors to the uptake of peritoneal dialysis in British Columbia were bedside catheter insertions and expediting transitions from in-center hemodialysis to peritoneal dialysis.

Interventional Radiology Placement and Management of Tunneled Peritoneal Dialysis Catheters: A Pictorial Review.

Interventional radiology (IR) is an underutilized resource for the placement and management of tunneled peritoneal dialysis (PD) catheters, as only about 5% of PD catheters are placed by using IR. PD is a cost-effective and physiologically beneficial alternative to hemodialysis (HD) with an increased survival benefit and lower complication rate than HD. As a home dialysis therapy, patients who undergo PD experience many advantages over patients who undergo HD, including a greater sense of well-being and quality of life. The author explains the history, need, rationale, benefits, complications, patient selection, preprocedure patient evaluation and preparation, catheter selection, procedural directives, and management strategies of IR involvement in tunneled PD catheter placement. Surgical and non-image-guided placement techniques and pitfalls are also discussed, and their benefits and limitations are compared with the cost-effective percutaneous image-guided IR technique. Specific attention to image-documented placement of the PD catheter coil into the retrovesical or retrouterine space is emphasized for optimal PD catheter function, as the retrovesical or retrouterine space is the most dependent portion of the peritoneal space and is void of omentum and small bowel. These features increase the functional ability of the PD catheter to effectively exchange the dialysate fluid and avoid complications such as omental wrap. IR, as an image-based specialty, is well positioned to evaluate for other complications of tunneled PD catheters such as migration, catheter kink and obstruction, and catheter leak. The demand for PD is predicted to increase in the future, and IR is strategically situated to become a leader in tunneled PD catheter placement and management. Published under a CC BY 4.0 license.

Peritoneal Dialysis for Acute Kidney Injury Treatment in the United States: Brought to You by the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has created unprecedented strain on health care resources in the United States. Initial reports of AKI rates from Wuhan, China ranged between 3% and 9%, although rates as high as 15% have been reported (1,2). For AKI requiring RRT, intermittent hemodialysis (HD) and continuous RRT (CRRT) have been mainstays of therapy in the United States. However, shortages in supplies, staffing, and available equipment among critically ill patients with COVID-19, particularly in the New York City area, have demanded alternative strategies such as acute peritoneal dialysis treatment for AKI (AKI-PD) that are being implemented. Here, we will review the rationale for the use of AKI-PD and describe potential advantages, criteria for patient selection, and practical considerations on the basis of initial experiences to consider when prescribing and delivering peritoneal dialysis (PD). PD was routine for AKI treatment worldwide well into the 1980s. However, by the 1990s with the development of the central venous catheter for HD and the advent of CRRT, PD became rarely used in higher-resource countries to treat adult patients with AKI (3). The utility and efficacy of PD to treat patients with AKI were re-examined after the publication of a series of articles from Brazil, including a randomized trial, demonstrating that PD provided acceptable care, was not inferior to daily HD in treating acutely ill patients with AKI in terms of patient mortality, and was associated with a shorter duration of AKI and need for RRT (4,5). These findings were confirmed in a randomized trial from Saudi Arabia comparing PD with hemodiafiltration (6). AKI-PD expanded dramatically in lower-resource countries with the advent of the Saving Young Lives Program in 2012, which promoted the use of PD because of minimal infrastructural requirements, including a lack of need for water …

A promising pediatric peritoneal dialysis experience in a resource-limited setting with the support of saving young lives program.

In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), acute kidney injury (AKI) contributes to the high rate of child mortality owing to the conjunction of poverty, deficiency of qualified health-care providers in pediatric nephrology, and the lack of pediatric dialysis programs. We aimed to describe the recent experience of the first pediatric acute peritoneal dialysis (PD) program in DRC. This is a retrospective cohort study on epidemiology, clinical features and outcomes of children admitted from January 2018 to January 2019 at the University Hospital of Kinshasa for AKI and treated with PD. This pediatric PD program started by a team of one physician and one nurse who were trained in the local production of PD fluids and bedside catheter insertion technique in Benin Republic. The training was jointly supported by the Flemish Inter-University Council (VLIR) TEAM project and Saving Young Lives (SYL) program of ISN, ISPD, EuroPD, and IPNA. From January 2018 to January 2019, 49 children (aged 4 months-15 years) were admitted for AKI mainly due to severe malaria and sepsis. Dialysis was indicated in 35 of 49 (71.4%), 32 of 35 (91.4%) were treated with PD, two with hemodialysis (HD) in adult ward and one died at admission. Data of the two patients transferred for HD were not available for follow-up. The main indications were uremia and prolonged anuria. Of 32 dialyzed patients, 24 (75%) recovered normal renal function 3 months after discharge. Peritonitis was observed in 2 of 32 (6.2%) patients and the mortality was 18.7%. This promising experience proves that with simple means including use of locally produced dialysis fluids and low peritonitis rates, we can effectively save lives of children suffering from AKI.

Social Support in the Peritoneal Dialysis Experience: A Qualitative Descriptive Study.

Background:People with end-stage kidney disease can either pursue conservative (palliative) management or kidney replacement therapy. Although transplant is preferred, there is a limited number of organs available rendering the majority of patients treated with some form of dialysis. Hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis are equivalent regarding clinical outcomes, but peritoneal dialysis is much less costly to provide. Peritoneal dialysis is most often done in the home by the patient or a support person and carries a self-care burden on patients and families. Social support is important for patients receiving peritoneal dialysis and in sustaining peritoneal dialysis therapy. Few studies have comprehensively explored social support in the context of peritoneal dialysis.Objective:To explore how patients, family members, and nurses view social support.Design:Qualitative, descriptive study.Setting:An outpatient peritoneal dialysis clinic in Western Canada.Participants:Patients, family members, and nurses.Methods:Patients (n = 15), family members (n = 6), and nurses (n = 11) were interviewed between January and May 2018. Content analysis was undertaken using 4 attributes of social support (ie, emotional support, instrumental support, informational support, and appraisal support) as an analytic framework.Results:Themes related to the 4 attributes of social support were identified: addressing emotional needs and managing emotion (emotional support); peritoneal dialysis tasks and life tasks (instrumental support); accessing information, receiving information, and learning (informational support); and affirmation/external reassurance and self-confidence (appraisal support). The social support needs of both patients and family members varied and were dependent on their existing support networks and individual perspectives of support.Limitations:It is possible that some of the study findings were gender-bound as well as context-specific. The study findings could be different if the patient and caregiver sample were more balanced based on sex. There are also unique attributes of each peritoneal dialysis program that may impact the transferability of these findings to other practice settings.Conclusion:Home-based peritoneal dialysis has potential benefit to patients and health care systems. However, receiving peritoneal dialysis requires support. If health care providers wish to promote this treatment, they must also understand how to best support patients and their family members.Trial Registration:Not applicable.

Trends in Peritoneal Dialysis Use in the United States after Medicare Payment Reform.

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) for ESKD is associated with similar mortality, higher quality of life, and lower costs compared with hemodialysis (HD), but has historically been underused. We assessed the effect of the 2011 Medicare prospective payment system (PPS) for dialysis on PD initiation, modality switches, and stable PD use. Using US Renal Data System and Medicare data, we identified all United States patients with ESKD initiating dialysis before (2006-2010) and after (2011-2013) PPS implementation, and observed their modality for up to 2 years after dialysis initiation. Using logistic regression models, we examined the associations between PPS and early PD experience (any PD 1-90 days after initiation), late PD use (any PD 91-730 days after initiation), and modality switches (PD-to-HD or HD-to-PD 91-730 days after initiation). We adjusted for patient, dialysis facility, and regional characteristics. Overall, 619,126 patients with incident ESKD received dialysis at Medicare-certified facilities, 2006-2013. Observed early PD experience increased from 9.4% before PPS to 12.6% after PPS. Observed late PD use increased from 12.1% to 16.1%. In adjusted analyses, PPS was associated with increased early PD experience (odds ratio [OR], 1.51; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.47 to 1.55; P<0.001) and late PD use (OR, 1.47; 95% CI, 1.45 to 1.50; P<0.001). In subgroup analyses, late PD use increased in part due to an increase in HD-to-PD switches among those without early PD experience (OR, 1.59; 95% CI, 1.52 to 1.66; P<0.001) and a decrease in PD-to-HD switches among those with early PD experience (OR, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.87 to 0.98; P=0.004). More patients started, stayed on, and switched to PD after dialysis payment reform. This occurred without a substantial increase in transfers to HD.

Peritoneal Dialysis Patient Outcomes under the Medicare Expanded Dialysis Prospective Payment System.

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) use increased in the United States with the introduction of a new Medicare prospective payment system in January 2011 that likely reduced financial disincentives for facility use of this home therapy. The expansion of PD to a broader population and facilities having less PD experience may have implications for patient outcomes. We assessed the impact of PD expansion on PD discontinuation and patient mortality. A prospective cohort study was conducted of patients treated with PD at 90 days of ESKD. Patients were grouped by study start date relative to the Medicare payment reform: prereform (July 1, 2008 to December 31, 2009; n=10,585), interim (January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2010; n=7832), and reform period (January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2012; n=18,742). Patient characteristics and facility PD experience were compared at baseline (day 91 of ESKD). Patients were followed for 3 years for the major outcomes of PD discontinuation and mortality using Cox proportional hazards models. Patient characteristics, including age, sex, race, ethnicity, rurality, cause of ESKD, and comorbidity, were similar or showed small changes across the three study periods. There was an increasing tendency for patients on PD to be treated in facilities with less PD experience (from 34% during the prereform period being treated in facilities averaging <14 patients on PD per year to 44% in the reform period). Patients treated in facilities with less PD experience had a higher rate of PD discontinuation than patients treated in facilities with the most experience (hazard ratio [HR], 1.16; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.10 to 1.23 for the first versus fifth quintile of PD experience). Nevertheless, the risk of PD discontinuation fell during the late interim period (HR, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.82 to 0.95) and most of the reform period (from HR, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.79 to 0.91 to HR, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.87 to 1.01). Mortality risk was stable across the three study periods. In the context of expanding PD use and declining facility PD experience, the risk of PD discontinuation fell, and there was no adverse effect on mortality. This article contains a podcast at https://www.asn-online.org/media/podcast/CJASN/2019_09_12_CJN01610219.mp3.

Is Assisted Peritoneal Dialysis a Solution for Northern Manitoba?

Background:End-stage kidney disease (ESKD) continues to fundamentally impact the lives of First Nations (FN) patients. Home peritoneal dialysis (PD) offers patients more mobility and flexibility, but few Manitoba FNs have availed themselves of this option.Objective:This paper discusses Manitoba FNs' experience of PD, to highlight enablers and barriers to expanding the use of PD in rural and remote Manitoba communities.Methods:We analyzed interviews of individuals living with ESKD (N = 14), family caregivers (N = 14) and healthcare providers and administrators (N = 27).Results:Barriers to PD uptake include medical suitability, patients' distrust of home modalities and fear in their ability to manage. Other factors include limited family support and lack of appropriate housing.Conclusions:Assisted peritoneal dialysis (APD) is an emerging model where PD supplies are centrally located, and where a cohort of PD patients can provide mutual support with added assistance from an APD worker. This model could mitigate existing treatment barriers.

Patient-reported advantages and disadvantages of peritoneal dialysis: results from the PDOPPS

BackgroundPatient-reported measures are increasingly recognized as important predictors of clinical outcomes in peritoneal dialysis (PD). We sought to understand associations between patient-reported perceptions of the advantages and disadvantages of PD and clinical outcomes.MethodsIn this cohort study, 2760 PD patients in the Peritoneal Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study (PDOPPS) completed a questionnaire on their PD experience, between 2014 and 2017. In this questionnaire, PDOPPS patients rated 17 aspects of their PD experience on a 5-category ordinal scale, with responses scored from − 2 (major disadvantage) to + 2 (major advantage). An advantage/disadvantage score (ADS) was computed for each patient by averaging their response scores. The ADS, along with each of these 17 aspects, were used as exposures. Outcomes included mortality, transition to hemodialysis (HD), patient-reported quality of life (QOL), and depression. Cox regression was used to estimate associations between ADS and mortality, transition to HD, and a composite of the two. Logistic regression with generalized estimating equations was used to estimate cross-sectional associations of ADS with QOL and depression.ResultsWhile 7% of PD patients had an ADS < 0 (negative perception of PD), 59% had an ADS between 0 and < 1 (positive perception), and 34% had an ADS ≥1 (very positive perception). Minimal association was observed between mortality and the ADS. Compared with a very positive perception, patients with a negative perception had a higher transition rate to HD (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.67; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.21, 2.30). Among individual items, “space taken up by PD supplies” was commonly rated as a disadvantage and had the strongest association with transition to HD (HR = 1.28; 95% CI 1.07, 1.53). Lower ADS was strongly associated with worse QOL rating and greater depressive symptoms.ConclusionsAlthough patients reported a generally favorable perception of PD, patient-reported disadvantages were associated with transition to HD, lower QOL, and depression. Strategies addressing these disadvantages, in particular reducing solution storage space, may improve patient outcomes and the experience of PD.

Patients' Perspectives on the Prevention and Treatment of Peritonitis in Peritoneal Dialysis: A Semi-Structured Interview Study.

♦ BACKGROUND: Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is recommended for adults with residual kidney function and without significant comorbidities. However, peritonitis is a serious and common complication that is associated with hospitalization, pain, catheter loss, and death. This study aims to describe the beliefs, needs, and experiences of PD patients about peritonitis, to inform the training, support, and care of these patients. ♦ METHODS: Qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted with 29 patients from 3 renal units in Australia who had previous or current experience of PD. The interviews were conducted between November 2014 and November 2015. Transcripts were analyzed thematically. ♦ RESULTS: We identified 4 themes: constant vigilance for prevention (conscious of vulnerability, sharing responsibility with family, demanding attention to detail, ambiguity of detecting infection, ineradicable inhabitation, jeopardizing PD success); invading harm (life-threatening, wreaking internal damage, debilitating pain, losing control and dignity); incapacitating lifestyle interference (financial strain, isolation and separation, exacerbating burden on family); and exasperation with hospitalization (dread of hospital admission, exposure to infection, gruelling follow-up schedule, exposure to harm). ♦ CONCLUSIONS: Patients perceived that peritonitis could threaten their health, treatment modality, and lifestyle, which motivated vigilance and attention to hygiene. They felt a loss of control due to debilitating symptoms including pain and having to be hospitalized, and they were uncertain about how to monitor for signs of peritonitis. Providing patients with education about the causes and signs of peritonitis and addressing their concerns about lifestyle impact, financial impact, hospitalization, and peritonitis-related anxieties may improve treatment satisfaction and outcomes for patients requiring PD.

Patient and family perspectives on peritoneal dialysis at home: findings from an ethnographic study.

To discuss findings from an ethnographic study, considering the experiences of patients and families, using peritoneal dialysis at home in the United Kingdom. Peritoneal dialysis is a daily, life-preserving treatment for end-stage renal disease, undertaken in the patient's home. With ever-growing numbers of patients requiring treatment for this condition, the increased use of peritoneal dialysis is being promoted. While it is known that quality of life is reduced when using dialysis, few studies have sought to explore experiences of peritoneal dialysis specifically. No previous studies were identified that adopted an ethnographic approach. A qualitative design was employed, utilising ethnographic methodology. Ethical and governance approvals were gained in November 2010 and data were generated in 2011. Patients (n = 16) and their relatives (n = 9) were interviewed and observed using peritoneal dialysis in their homes. Thematic analysis was undertaken using Wolcott's (1994) three stage process: Description, Analysis and Interpretation. This article describes four themes: initiating peritoneal dialysis; the constraints of peritoneal dialysis due to medicalisation of the home environment and the imposition of rigid timetables; the uncertainty of managing crises and inevitable deterioration; and seeking freedom through creativity and hope of a kidney transplant. This study highlights the culture of patients and their families living with peritoneal dialysis. Despite the challenges posed by the treatment, participants were grateful they were able to self-manage at home. Furthermore, ethnographic methods offer an appropriate and meaningful way of considering how patients live with home technologies. Participants reported confusion about kidney transplantation and also how to identify peritonitis, and ongoing education from nurses and other healthcare professionals is thus vital. Opportunities for sharing experiences of peritoneal dialysis were valued by participants and further peer-support services should thus be considered.