Report on the symposium celebrating the 40th anniversary of chronic dialysis and kidney transplantation in Slovenia.

摘要

The Symposium celebrating the 40th anniversary of chronic hemodialysis and kidney transplantation in Slovenia took place at Hotel Golf, Bled, Slovenia, from 4-5 November 2010 and was organized by the Slovenian Society of Nephrology, whose President, Prof. Rafael Ponikvar, was also President of the Organizing Committee. The first chronic hemodialysis center in Slovenia was opened in 1970 at the University Medical Center Ljubljana. The first kidney transplantation from a living, related donor was performed the same year. In 1974, nephrologists started to construct and repair arteriovenous fistulas and grafts, and since then have performed more than 6000 surgeries. Hemodialysis catheters were introduced in 1976, and since then more than 20 000 catheters have been inserted. Plasma exchange was introduced in 1980, and continuous venovenous hemofiltration was introduced in adults in 1984 and in small children and newborns in 1986. The first kidney transplantation from a deceased donor was performed in 1986. More than 800 kidney transplantations were performed. On 1 January 2000, Slovenia became a member of Eurotransplant. Today, the quality of both dialysis and kidney transplantation in Slovenia is high, and comparable to the most developed countries.