Peritoneal Dialysis: Trends, Outcomes and Complications

Background: Renal replacement therapy is needed for end-stage chronic renal failure patients to sustain their lives. Renal replacement therapy could be either hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis. Peritoneal dialysis provides several advantages to the patient compared to hemodialysis. It requires fewer hospital visits, has greater patient autonomy and could be adjusted to daily personal activities. However, complications such as peritonitis, line blockage, leakage and hernia, may occur. Objective: To evaluate the trends of Peritoneal Dialysis, its outcome and associated complications. Design: A Retrospective, Descriptive Study. Setting: Peritoneal Dialysis Centers, Ministry of Health, Bahrain. Method: One hundred eight patients who underwent peritoneal dialysis line insertion from January 2007 to January 2015 were included in this study. Result: One hundred eight patients had peritoneal dialysis line insertion from January 2007 to January 2015. Forty-eight (44.44%) patients are currently on regular peritoneal dialysis. Sixty (55.55%) stopped peritoneal dialysis due to several reasons: 23 (38.3%) blockage, 11 (18.3%) death, 5 (8.3%) inadequate dialysis, 4 (6.6%) transplant, 4 (6.6%) social and 8 (13.3%) unknown. Complications occurred in 52 (48.1%) patients: peritonitis in 29 (26.8%), and blockage in 23 (21.3%) patients. No other complications were reported. Conclusion: Peritoneal Dialysis remains an effective method of renal replacement therapy and it offers several advantages in comparison to hemodialysis. Our results are consistent with most reported regional and international findings. However, we look forward to improve our practice, particularly reducing the infection and blockage rates.