title: Haemodialysis for children under the age of two years.
abstract: Less than 10% of children under 2 years old with end-stage renal failure in Europe and in the United States of America are treated with haemodialysis. For small children, peritoneal dialysis is often the preferred treatment. Haemodialysis is chosen for a very small number of children, and is only used in some selected centres because of its highly complex technique, the difficulties related to vascular access, and the need to have a skilled and experienced nursing and medical team. With the technological development of recent years, the quality of dialysis treatment offered to paediatric patients has improved considerably and haemodialysis is presently considered to be a safe and efficient treatment for acute or chronic paediatric renal impairment. However, because a successful renal transplant continues to be linked to a better quality of life for children with terminal chronic renal impairment, dialysis ought to be regarded as a temporary treatment method, while waiting for a renal transplant.
authors.affiliation: Oporto Nursing School (Escola Superior de Enfermagem do Porto), Oporto, Portugal. clementesousa@esenf.pt
authors.forename: Clemente Neves
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Sousa
authors.forename: Madalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gama
authors.forename: Melanie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Andrade
authors.forename: M Sameiro
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Faria
authors.forename: Eloi
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pereira
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000523:psychology; D018579:Patient Selection; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000379:methods; D010530:Peritoneal Dialysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002666:Psychology, Child; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012449:Safety; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014850:Waiting Lists