Chronic hemodialysis for terminal renal failure.
Ten terminal uremic patients seen over the period of one and one-half years have been kept alive by repeated hemodialysis using a modification of the Seattle system, carried out for the most part by nurses and technicians. All the patients had creatinine clearance values below 5 ml./min., and blood urea nitrogen values which ranged between 156 and 453 mg. % before beginning the first dialysis.Selection was based on their ability to co-operate with and to tolerate the regimen. Nine patients were fully rehabilitated.The major complications were those related to shunt-site infections, including septicemia, bacterial endocarditis, septic arthritis, septic pulmonary embolism and mycotic aneurysm.Nevertheless, all patients except one were rehabilitated and resumed their full-time occupations and have continued to lead happy and useful lives.
D000328:Adult; D003956:Dialysis; D005260:Female; D005921:Glomerulonephritis / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007688:Kidneys, Artificial; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009393:Nephritis / Q000628:therapy*; D014511:Uremia / Q000628:therapy*