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To increase the number of regular dialysis patients without increasing apparatus, staff or buildings, short time-high area dialysis was undertaken for 3.5 h twice a week or 3 h three times a week with two UF 2 coils in series (2 m²) with dialysis fluid flow of 300 ml/min/kidney in parallel. The biochemical and clinical results were compared with those obtained in a period immediately prior to this using conventional 7-hours dialysis twice a week or 6 h three times a week on UF 145. Urea, creatinine and vitamin B₁₂ clearances, predialysis blood urea and creatinine levels and the clinical state of the patients were satisfactory on short double UF 2 coil in series dialysis. Addition of 1–1.5 liters of saline during dialysis permitted an average net fall in body weight of 1 kg without cramps or hypotension. The merits of rapid dialysis with a large area dialyzer are discussed.

Previously reported results for exchangeable potassium in advanced renal failure have been conflicting. We have studied, therefore, 13 patients in advanced chronic renal failure with a mean urea clearance of 3 ml/min and a mean creatinine clearance of 4.1 ml/min, and without evidence of unusual extrarenal potassium losses. The results of exchangeable potassium in both males and females were not significantly different from normal (43.3 mEq/kg in males and 35.9 mEq/ kg in females). In the majority of patients overall potassium secretion was observed. Our results do not support arbitrary potassium supplementation in patients treated conservatively for renal failure in an effort to improve their glucose tolerance.

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