Early Attempts at Rehabilitation of Terminal Uremic Patients by Periodic Hemodialysis

Abstract

SUMMARY Early experiences with periodic hemodialysis in four patients with terminal renal failure are reported. Initial improvement was followed by mental deterioration, wasting and peripheral neuropathy. These poor results were attributed to inadequate hæmodialysis. Hypertension could not be controlled by hypotensive drugs alone. Prolonged rehabilitation can be achieved only by twice‐weekly hæmodialyses with rigid sodium and water restriction and a reduced protein intake.

Chronic Hemodialysis by Repeated Femoral Vein Cannulation

“…12 patients who had recurrent failure of arteriovenous fistulae and grafts were hemodialyzed from 65 to 514 times (total 2.344) by repeated femoral vein cannulation with only 3 complications. This technique, which has been made relatively easy and safe by improved equipment, permits continued hemodialysis when other modes of vascular access have failed.Shaldon et al [I] and Rae et al [2] introduced the Seldinger [3] technique for percutaneous cannulation of fem oral vessels for both acute and long-term hemodialysis. This report concerns our experience with 12 patients who were chronically dialyzed from 7 months to 5 years by re peated femoral vein cannulation (RFVC) with surprisingly few complications or difficulties.…”