Clinically Oriented Patient Maintenance Protocol: A Clinical Consensus of Experts.

The aim of the present survey was to define the most appropriate recall regimen and professional maintenance care protocol, identifying the main relative issues, based on a consensus of experts with long-term clinical experience. The survey consisted of 14 clinically relevant focused questions. The answers of each expert were aggregated to formulate clinical recommendations.

Blood-brain barrier permeability following traumatic brain injury.

Background: Brain edema and intracranial hypertension is deleterious after traumatic brain injury (TBI), but the underlying pathophysiology is complex and poorly understood. One major subject of controversy is the time course and extent of blood-brain barrier (BBB) dysfunction following trauma, and previous studies in humans have only provided semi-quantitative data. The objective of the present study was therefore to quantify changes in BBB-permeability in the early course of TBI, when brain edema is still evolving.

Two icodextrin exchanges per day in peritoneal dialysis patients with ultrafiltration failure: one center's experience and review of the literature.

Background: At present, only one exchange of an icodextrin-based solution is recommended to increase peritoneal ultrafiltration (UF) during long-dwell exchanges in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients with impaired UF.

Aim: To review our experience with two icodextrin exchanges per day on net UF and body weight in PD patients with poor UF.

Methods: Data were analyzed on nine patients with poor UF on chronic PD who were given two icodextrin exchanges per day for 6 months and had various clinical and biochemical parameters assessed monthly.

The variability in ultrafiltration achieved with icodextrin, possibly explained.

Background: A recent study by Jeloka et al. (Perit Dial Int 2006; 26:336-40) highlighted the high variability in maximum ultrafiltered volume (UF(max)) and the corresponding dwell time (t(max)) obtained using 7.5% icodextrin solution.

The effects of low-sodium peritoneal dialysis fluids on blood pressure, thirst and volume status.

Background: Poor ultrafiltration is associated with worse outcomes in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. This might in part reflect problems associated with salt and water excess. Increasing the diffusive component of peritoneal sodium removal using low-sodium PD fluids might have beneficial effects on blood pressure (BP), thirst and fluid status that could translate into clinical benefits.