A new technique - semicontinuous rapid flow, high volume exchange - for effective peritoneal dialysis in shorter periods.

During the period of study, 85 dialysis clearance periods were studied in a total of 42 dialyses. Peritoneal clearance of urea and creatinine were observed at varying flow rates of dialysing fluid ranging from 2 litres/hour to 8.5 litres/hour. Flow rates were adjusted to various speeds with indigineously designed diaphragm pump. The diaphragm pump is cheap and simple and has an electronically controlled timer. A linear correlation was observed between dialysate flow rate and peritoneal clearances. With this semicontinuous rapid flow, high volume exchange peritoneal dialysis technique described in this study, correction of serum potassium disturbance is found to be excellent even in shorter periods.