The Christchurch earthquake: dialysis experience and emergency planning.

On 22 February 2011, a large earthquake struck the Canterbury region in New Zealand. There was extensive damage to buildings and infrastructure. The following day 42 haemodialysis patients were flown to Auckland where they acutely dialysed through the efforts of the Auckland, Waitemata and Counties-Manukau dialysis team.

Preventable kidney failure: the cost of diabetes neglect?

Aims: Diabetic kidney disease is currently responsible for 45% of new patients reaching end-stage chronic kidney disease in New Zealand. Since much of this may be prevented or deferred, we have made a preliminary analysis of the cost of diabetic nephropathy to New Zealand for those patients requiring renal replacement therapy (dialysis or transplantation).

Methods: Patient numbers were obtained from the Australian and New Zealand Dialysis and Transplant Registry and the Christchurch Hospital Nephrology database.

The pharmacokinetics and tolerability of oseltamivir suspension in patients on haemodialysis and continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis.

Background: Oseltamivir dose reduction is recommended for patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). However, dosing recommendations are not available for treatment or prophylaxis of influenza in these patients. This study assessed the pharmacokinetics and tolerability of oseltamivir in ESRD patients undergoing maintenance haemodialysis (HD) and continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD).

Future of home haemodialysis in Australia and New Zealand.

Maintenance haemodialysis (HD) was pioneered in Seattle and rapidly became home-based. When dialysis treatment began in Australia and New Zealand, home haemodialysis (HHD) became the predominant form of dialysis. When compared with in-centre conventional dialysis, HHD is associated with superior survival and quality of life and is cheaper.

Long-term survival of arteriovenous fistulas in home hemodialysis patients.

Background: We report the outcome of arteriovenous (AV) fistulas created and managed by a multidisciplinary team in patients on hemodialysis (HD) over 20 years.

Methods: We analyzed 432 AV fistulas in 301 home HD patients (12% diabetic; median age 47 years) followed for up to 161 months. Observed end points were spontaneous or surgical AV fistula closure, or construction of a new vascular anastomosis.