Background Few patients are able to resume peritoneal dialysis (PD) therapy after an episode of peritonitis that requires catheter removal. PD catheter loss is therefore regarded as an important index of patient morbidity. The aim of the present study was to evaluate factors influencing catheter loss in patients suffering from continuous ambulatory PD (CAPD) peritonitis. Patients and Methods We retrospectively reviewed 579 episodes of CAPD peritonitis from 1999 to 2006 in a tertiary-care referral hospital. Demographic, biochemical, and microbiological characteristics were recorded. Episodes resulting in PD catheter removal ( n = 68; 12%) were compared by both univariate and multivariate analyses with those in which PD catheters were preserved. Results The incidence of PD catheter loss increased as the number of organisms cultured increased ( p = 0.001). Also, PD catheter removal was more likely to occur after peritonitis episodes with low serum albumin level ( p = 0.004), those with long duration of PD effluent leukocyte count remaining above 100/μL ( p < 0.001), those with concomitant tunnel infection ( p < 0.001), those with concomitant exit-site infection ( p = 0.005), and those with presence of catastrophic intra-abdominal visceral events ( p < 0.001). Duration on PD preceding the peritonitis episode was of borderline significance ( p = 0.080). On the contrary, initial PD effluent leukocyte count and serum level of C-reactive protein were not predictive of PD catheter loss. Micro-organisms of the Enterobacteriaceae family were the major pathogens responsible for PD catheter loss following polymicrobial peritonitis. Furthermore, we found that there was no association between polymicrobial peritonitis and the catastrophic intra-abdominal visceral event, although both resulted in a greater incidence of PD catheter loss. Among the single-organism group in our population, the microbiological determinants of PD catheter loss included fungi ( p < 0.001), anaerobes ( p = 0.018), and Pseudomonas sp (borderline significance: p = 0.095). Conclusion PD catheter loss as a consequence of peritonitis is related primarily to hypoalbuminemia, longer duration of PD effluent leukocyte count remaining above 100/μL, the etiologic source of the infection, and the organism causing the infection. Peritonitis associated with concomitant tunnel or exit-site infections and abdominal catastrophes were more likely to proceed to PD catheter loss. The microbiological determinants of PD catheter loss in the present study included polymicrobial infections caused by Enterobacteriaceae as well as monomicrobial pseudomonal, anaerobic, and fungal infections.

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Background: Compared to the general population, patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) have increased peptic ulcer and upper GI bleeding complication rates. However, the risk factors for peptic ulcer among ESRD patients are unknown. Methods: In this retrospective study, we enrolled 827 incident dialysis patients and diagnosed peptic ulcer on the basis of endoscopic findings; information on the morbidities and medical prescription were obtained directly from medical records. A Cox regression hazard model was used to identify risk factors for peptic ulcer. Results: During the 10-year study period, 481 patients underwent an endoscopic exam. Peptic ulcers were detected in 153 patients. Age (p = 0.025), peritoneal dialysis (p = 0.022), diabetes mellitus (p = 0.020), congestive heart failure (p = 0.015), low serum albumin (p = 0.008) and high gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (γ-GT) levels (p = 0.002) are risk factors for peptic ulcers among ESRD patients. Ulcer severity (p = 0.004) and aspirin prescription (p = 0.043), but not Helicobacter pylori infection, influenced the ulcer recurrence rate. Conclusion: The risk factors for peptic ulcer have some differences between ESRD patients and general population. In patients with high risk of upper GI bleeding, peritoneal dialysis and aspirin should be prescribed with caution.

Background and objectives Chinese patients with ESRD have different comorbidity patterns than white patients with ESRD and require a validated comorbidity index. The objective of this study was to develop a new index for mortality prediction in 2006-2009 Taiwanese incident hemodialysis patients.Design, setting, participants, & measurements Data were retrieved from 2005 to 2010 Taiwan National Health Insurance claim records, and follow-up was available until December 31, 2010. The same comorbid conditions as the US Renal Data System (USRDS) index that occurred during a 12-month period from 9 months before to 3 months after dialysis initiation were used to construct the index. Integer weight of the comorbid conditions was derived from coefficient estimates of Cox regression for all-cause mortality, and the index was internally validated. The performance of the index was assessed by discrimination, calibration, and reclassification.Results A total of 30,303 hemodialysis patients were included in this study. The weight for individual comorbid conditions of this index differed from that of the USRDS index. The performance of this index was similar to that of USRDS and Charlson indices in terms of model fit statistics, overall predictive ability, discrimination, and calibration. Hosmer-Lemeshow test showed that all three indices demonstrated significant differences between predicted and observed mortality rates. When patients were categorized by the predicted 2.5-year survival probabilities, the index achieved a net reclassification improvement of 4.71% (P,0.001), referenced to USRDS index.Conclusions Compared with USRDS index, this new index demonstrated better reclassification ability, but future studies should address the clinical significance.

In Taiwan, peritoneal dialysis (PD) was launched in 1984. Since then, the Taiwan Society of Nephrology (TSN) has taken the responsibility for supervising PD programs. All PD programs are required to pass evaluations from the TSN before inception. Every new PD patient receives individual training from a qualified PD nurse. The training, accompanied by a review test, is usually provided in the hospital during the week right after catheter implantation. To evaluate the effect of the patient training program on PD outcomes, we designed a retrospective observation study and reviewed the post-training tests of 100 new PD patients. The post-training test has 10 parts: anatomy and physiology, overview of chronic kidney disease, overview of PD, complications of peritonitis and exit-site infection, diet control, cardiovascular complications, PD skills and procedures, aseptic techniques, management of peritonitis, and routine tasks. The relationship between the post-training test scores and peritonitis was analyzed. Results showed that risk of peritonitis is not related to the post-training test score. However, based on our experiences, we believe that PD patient training should be lengthened and repeated periodically as suggested by the International Survey of Peritoneal Dialysis Training Programs. Training on certain issues such as the signs and symptoms of peritonitis should be especially enhanced.