Peritoneal dialysis as a valuable tool for blood purification.

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is used to a limited extent in most developed countries for haemodialysis (HD). However, the survival using PD does not differ from that using HD and may even to some extent favour the use of PD. In patients who are expected to stay for many years in a chronic renal replacement therapy programme an important reason for starting with PD is to save the vascular access for later use. Other favourable issues are also discussed. This paper will also cover various aspects of how to reduce the risk of problems in a PD programme. In addition the concept of early start or acute start of peritoneal dialysis will be covered.