Abstract
The purpose of this study was development of a new easy-to-handle nocturnal peritoneal dialysis (NPD) machine functionally controlled with time.
The size of this machine is only 40 by 40 by 160cm. A clinical dialysis program starts daily at 9 p.m, repeating 4 cycles at 2 hour intervals with a 20 minute drainage period and 8 minutes of infusion. The program finishes at 7 a.m. Preset adequate volumes of premixed dialysis solutions are certain to flow into the peritoneal cavity by means of the digital time devices and intraabdominl pressure and gravity.
We used this equipment in a 67-year-old male patient suffering from dissecting aneurysm of the aorta (Debakey III b) associated with renal failure. Initially, he had received hemodialysis. But, because of repeated shunt failure and artificial blood vessel infections, he had been receiving CAPD since December 1989. In February 1991, this NPD system was initiated. He has been well enough to resume his normal daily activities.
In conclusion, the Fukui-type automatic PD fluid exchanger may be clinically useful.
