RESUMEN
This study was done to examine features of drainage flow and to determine whether the drainage period could be safely reduced in intermittent peritoneal dialysis patients [IPD]. Eight patients were examined in an open nonrandomized prospective study. Drainage flow pattern was measured using 2-L dialysate. The drainage period was reduced from 30 minutes [mean] to 10 minutes throughout the dialysis sitting. Ultrafiltration volume, body weight and peritoneal clearance of urea, creatinine and phosphate as well as the protein loss were measured. A kinetic analysis of the drainage period and volume indicated a positive linear correlation with two different slopes: one for rapid drainage for the first 7 minutes and one for subsequent slow drainage. The effluent exceeded 90 percent in the first 10 minutes. Ultrafiltration volume and body weight showed no change due to the reduction. Most of the patients were satisfied with the reduction and desired its continuation. We can conclude that ten minutes is a sufficient drainage period for most IPD patients with a 2-L dialysate volume. This may possibly allow an increase in effective peritoneal membrane dialysate contact period