title: Dialysis in Children and Adolescents: The Pediatric Nephrology Perspective.
abstract: The care of children with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) is highly specialized and often poorly understood by nonpediatric providers and facility/institution administrators. As such, this position paper has been created to offer provider, facility, and institutional guidance regarding the components of care necessary for children receiving dialysis. Key differences between adult and pediatric dialysis units are highlighted. Responsibilities and expectations of the members of the interdisciplinary dialysis team are outlined as they pertain specifically to the care of pediatric dialysis patients. Physical and staffing requirements of the dialysis facility are reviewed, again focusing on unique needs and challenges faced by the pediatric dialysis care team. Among these, vascular access options and proper planning of ESRD care are underscored. Pediatric quality-of-life metrics differ significantly from adult quality variables, and proper tools for assessment must be used. Endorsed by the Council of the American Society of Pediatric Nephrology (ASPN), this position paper serves as a reference tool for the provision of care to pediatric patients with ESRD.
authors.affiliation: Abbvie, Chicago, IL; University of Illinois College of Medicine-Peoria, Peoria, IL. Electronic address: deepa.chand@abbvie.com.
authors.forename: Deepa H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Chand
authors.affiliation: Renal Services, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Swartz
authors.affiliation: Children's National Health System, Washington, DC.
authors.forename: Shamir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tuchman
authors.affiliation: Children's Hospital of Michigan and Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI.
authors.forename: Rudolph P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Valentini
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA.
authors.forename: Michael J G
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Somers
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002648:Child; D003663:Decision Trees; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000628:therapy*; D009398:Nephrology; D064647:Nephrology Nursing; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010372:Pediatrics; D011788:Quality of Life
keywords: ASPN position paper; American Society of Pediatric Nephrology (ASPN); Pediatric nephrology; adolescents; children; dialysis unit staffing; end-stage renal disease (ESRD); hemodialysis (HD); infants; interdisciplinary dialysis team (IDT); peritoneal dialysis (PD); practice recommendations; young person