[Intermittent peritoneal dialysis: a 6 years' experience]. / Peritoneo diálisis crónica intermitente: seis años de experiencia.

We show our experience, results and complications with Intermittent Peritoneal Dialysis (IPD). We treated with this technique 28 patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD), between 1981-1988; (24 adults, 8 of them with diabetic nephropathy (6 non insulin dependent diabetic patients and 4 children) for 3 to 36 months. IPD was well tolerated. The extracellular volume control, haematocrit and plasma protein values, as well as, ac-base equilibrium nutritional status, ureic nitrogen and creatinine plasma levels, were fully satisfactory. There was statistical difference only in the Na+ (p less than 0.001), alkaline phosphatases (p less than 0.005), glucose (p less than 0.05) plasma values and glycosylated hemoglobin (p less than 0.05), between diabetics and non diabetics group. The peritonitis rate was 0.065 and 0.074 peritonitis/patients-month; respectively (NS) and were caused by Gram (-) bacteria. St Aureus and St Epidermides. The survival curves of patients and method, in both groups, were similar (NS). We conclude IPD is a good alternative of therapy for ESRD, also for diabetics patients, whom haven't got more infection rate than non diabetics patients.