CAPD in Children

The renewal of interest in peritoneal dialysis as a treatment modality for patients with end-stage renal disease was stimulated by the report of Po­ povich and his colleagues in 1976 on the technique of CAPD. With the in­ troduction of commercial dialysate-containing plastic bags, which mark­ edly reduced the incidence of peritonitis, the use of CAPD as a primary treatment modality has increased significantly. At the present time, more than 12% of the patients undergoing dialysis in the United States are utiliz­ ing CAPD; however, the use of CAPD among pediatric patients is con­ siderably greater. The First International Symposium on CAPD in Children was orga­ nized in order to gather together experts with experience in treating chil­ dren undergoing CAPD in an attempt to exchange current information on the utilization of this emerging technique in children. Since pediatric pa­ tients comprise a small percentage of the CAPD population and since lim­ ited data were available concerning specific methodology and complica­ tions of CAPD in children, it was hoped that an international symposium would provide a forum for an exchange of experience that would ultimate­ ly lead to better adaptation and increased utilization of this technique.