Peritoneal Dialysis: Key Therapy in Kidney Failure in Small Sized Dogs

摘要

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is a highly effective therapeutic method employed to remove toxic byproducts andmetabolites from the body when this role can no longer be fulfilled by the kidneys that are either permanentlydamaged as in chronic kidney failure, or need time and proper treatment to recover from other diseases of thekidney itself or pathologies that may affect the renal function as they progress. This technique uses the peritoneumability to act as a filtering membrane, through which the toxins, such as urea and creatinine, pass into the peritonealcavity, being subsequently removed along with the dialysate.The study describes the evolution and follows the dynamic of the biomarkers in 5 dogs suffering from kidneyfailure, that did not respond well to specific treatment and for whom peritoneal dialysis was the best therapeuticapproach.Peritoneal dialysis was performed in 5 dogs, with ages between 5 and 15 years old, during 6 months, usingDiaenal PD4 glucose 1.36% W/V/13.6mg/ml produced by Baxter. Blood samples were taken from each dogbefore the procedure, and then twice a week to monitor the electrolytes, creatinine and urea levels. Also, beforeintroducing the dialysate into the peritoneal cavity, the patients underwent ultrasound examination to evaluatethe kidneys and to exclude other problems that would prevent this maneuver, and 2 hours after administering thedialysate to measure the absorption rate.All 5 patients exhibited an important recovery after 8-14 dialysis sessions, showing that the procedure wasable to maintain kidney stability, a fact proved also by the levels of metabolites involved in the clinical evolution.Ecography performed before and after dialysis revealed that the hydration level is key point in the success of theprocedure.Peritoneal dialysis is a more affordable and less invasive procedure to gradually eliminate the uremic toxins. Itcan offer temporary support for kidneys until the recovery of renal function is done, or when hemodialysis cannotbe used as a basic treatment.