Clinical experiences with nocturnal intermittent peritoneal dialysis

Nocturnal intermittent peritoneal dialysis (NIPD) was performed in 56 patients (37 men, 19 women; mean age 44 [18-77] years, 18 of them diabetics). The NIPD protocol laid down 6-10 automatic changes of 1.5-2.3 1 dialysate (mean glucose concentration: 1.9%) each night. Clinical and biochemical tests were performed three times, at least 4 weeks apart (the first one after 2 months of stable NIPD). 36 of the 52 patients under the age of 60 were working. Mean hospital stay (excluding catheter implantation and training) was 5 days yearly. Mean peritonitis rate was one episode every 54 months. Because of technical problems a change from peritoneal to haemodialysis became necessary in four patients. Clinical and biochemical findings were: creatinine 877 +/- 269 mumol/l, urea 20 +/- 5.2 mmol/l, potassium 4.5 +/- 0.6 mmol/l, calcium 2.3 +/- 0.2 mmol/l, phosphate 1.7 +/- 0.5 mmol/l, total protein 69 +/- 7 g/l, cholesterol 6.8 +/- 1.7 mmol/l, and triglycerides 2.6 +/- 1.4 mmol/l. These data show that NIPD is an effective method of dialysis which--in comparison with other techniques--has several advantages. Peritonitis and technical failure are rare.