Evolving Strategies in Peritoneal Dialysis

Evolving Strategies in Peritoneal Dialysis is intended as a concise compilation of articles designed to understand the basics of the current practice of the most cost-effective form of life support for patients with end-stage renal disease who require dialysis. Current strategies are understood best with a review of the historical development of catheter materials, solution packaging, and simplified machinery, which allow safe and effective nocturnal treatments. Quantitation of the efficacy of peritoneal dialysis is also reviewed because such calculations were also developed by the pioneers of nephrology to ensure adequacy of dialysis and daily fluid balance, which are responsible for the best chance for long-term patient survival. Comparison of methods for catheter placement is presented as well as the role that a dialysis center plays in the health and success of this form of end-stage renal disease patient care. The novel concept of assisted peritoneal dialysis for the infirm or institutionalized patients is probably the next direction needed to make available this treatment to many more patients than are currently eligible to receive it. This concept is explored in a separate chapter. Finally, professional dialysis staff must monthly assess individuals' nutritional status, bone health, and infection prevention and treatment to ensure the greatest functional status for these patients. This book concludes with a review of each of these topics to expand the mandatory monthly surveillance performed by dialysis centers for each patient who receives home peritoneal dialysis therapy

Challenges in Elder Care

This work is intended as a brief but focused compilation to assist with diagnosis and management of the most common serious medical problems in the rapidly growing geriatric population. The geriatric population recently expanded by the fact that the baby boomers have reached the milestone of 65 years of age in the past 5 years. Tips for diagnosis, medication administration, and logistics of cost-effective management in the health-care continuum are presented in this book. The latter often consists of a journey from home to medical office to emergency room to hospital bed to intensive care unit to long-term acute care hospital to skilled nursing facility to long-term residential facility and/or back home, which is also reviewed in the book Geriatrics