#1608 Use of intraperitoneal hydration by peritoneal dialysis fluid as a complementary palliative therapy in peritoneal dialysis patients

Abstract Background and Aims End life care should manage pain, other distressing symptoms and guarantee sufficient hydration. It should also involve psychological, social and spiritual support. Palliative care in peritoneal dialysis is a new and growing clinical question. There are several open questions: Should we stop peritoneal dialysis totally? Should we go on with peritoneal dialysis in a reduced fashion? Hereby we report a new application of CAPD exchanges, intraperitoneal hydration, in end life care of peritoneal dialysis patients. Method In seven peritoneal dialysis patients (2 female, 3 male, age 82 to 90 years) affected by severe heart failure (3 patients), dementia (2 patients) and malnutrition-inflammation syndrome (2 patients) we applied the concept of intraperitoneal hydration as a complementary palliative care. Peritoneal dialysis was switched into a single CAPD bag therapy utilizing a glucose concentration of 1.36% or 1.5%. Depending on the clinical hydration status 1000 ml of dialysis fluid was loaded daily or each other day without prior drainage. None of the patients was on intravenous therapy. Results The duration of the intraperitoneal hydration therapy varied between 5 and 16 days. In two cases, therapy was performed initially at the hospital ward and hereafter at a nursing home, whereas in the latter 5 cases at the patient's home by family members. No case of hypervolemia occurred. The intraperitoneal hydration therapy was well accepted by the family members. Conclusion The transformation of peritoneal dialysis from ultrafiltration and depuration into hydration without depuration seems to be a feasible approach. This approach should be kept in mind in special conditions such as end life palliative care and hypohydration.