| Theme |
Pediatric end-stage kidney disease -- management of transition |
| Title |
Current status of pediatric hemodialysis |
| Author |
Akira Ashida |
Department of Pediatrics, Osaka Medical College |
| Author |
Hyogo Nakakura |
Blood Purification Center, Arisawa General Hospital |
| [ Summary ] |
As a result of recent advances in medical treatment, hemodialysis therapy can now be performed safely in children, including neonates and low-birth-weight infants. Hemodialysis is selected as renal replacement therapy for over 15 % of children under the age of 20 years. However, pediatric patients require considerable medical attention in comparison with adults, including care in creating a blood access point and control of anticoagulation, as well as changing the settings for dry weight according to growth. In order to manage the transition of hemodialysis therapy from pediatric patients to adult renal services, it is necessary to provide adequate information about individual patients and to acquire information from patients receiving adult renal services. This article provides an overview of hemodialysis therapy for pediatric patients and outlines important points that need to be considered regarding their transition to adult services. |