The team approach to the management of children on chronic peritoneal dialysis

Dietary adherence in children with chronic kidney disease: a review of the evidence

BACKGROUND

In children with chronic kidney disease (CKD), a nutrition support plan is important to ensure optimal macro- and micro-nutrient intake in order to avoid malnutrition, disease-related complications and growth rate reduction. Children with CKD and their families encounter many difficulties in adjusting to the renal diet. Even though adherence to the recommended dietary plan is important in CKD, it is rarely measured partly due to the lack of robust, unbiased assessment methods.

METHODS

In this review of 22 papers, the techniques used to assess adherence in children with CKD are reviewed, alongside their advantages and disadvantages.

FINDINGS

Although dietary surveys, biochemical index assessment and clinician ratings have been found not to be efficient when used as a single tool, they should be used in combination in order to give the opportunity to the health providers to perceive adherence from as many angles as possible.

Nutrition assessment and management in children on peritoneal dialysis

Protein-calorie malnutrition, otherwise known as cachexia, is a common problem in children undergoing chronic peritoneal dialysis (PD) and is a frequent source of significant morbidity and mortality. Recent evidence suggests that the main factors involved in the pathogenesis are metabolic acidosis, a decreased response to anabolic hormones, and chronic inflammation, associated with hormonal imbalances and an increased metabolic rate. Given the complexity and multifactorial nature of cachexia, the assessment of nutritional status in children on PD requires a complete history and physical examination; assessment of dietary intake, biochemical indices, and anthropometry; and possibly bioimpedance analysis and combined score systems. Its management should likewise be multidisciplinary and include ensuring an adequate energy and protein intake; optimal metabolic control, with the correction of acidosis, anaemia, and hyperparathyroidism; an optimal (or at least adequate) dialysis dose; and, if necessary, prescription of specific drugs such as recombinant human growth hormone.

[Family history of children with chronic kidney failure: data collection]

The systematization process of care has as its first step the nursing history. This study aims to present the experience of data collection for care planning involving families of children with Chronic Kidney Failure on peritoneal dialysis. Family Nursing was used as a theoretical reference framework. Data were collected by means of in-depth interviews, documentary analysis, field diary, genogram and ecomap. Study participants were four families. The authors discuss in-depth interviews, its limitations and advantages, the construction of the genogram and ecomap and ethical, legal and social implications. Finally, it is presented general considerations on how to apply these instruments in care delivery involving families of children with Chronic Kidney Failure on peritoneal dialysis.

Racial differences in choice of dialysis modality for children with end-stage renal disease

OBJECTIVE

Black-white disparities in the use of specific medical and surgical services have been reported in adult populations. Such disparities are not well documented in children. We sought to determine whether racial disparities in the use of medical services exist among children with chronic illness who have similar health insurance, specifically the choice of dialysis modality for individuals with end-stage renal disease.

DESIGN

National cross-sectional study.

SETTING

Outpatient dialysis facilities throughout the United States.

PATIENTS AND PARTICIPANTS

All Medicare-eligible children (age, </=19 years) undergoing renal replacement therapy in 1990 in the United States, using data from the Medicare ESRD registry.

OUTCOME MEASURES

The odds of receiving hemodialysis versus peritoneal dialysis according to race. Adjustment was made for differences in age, gender, cause, and duration of end-stage renal disease, income, education, and facility characteristics using multiple logistic regression.

RESULTS

In 1990, 870 white and 368 black children received chronic (>1 year) renal replacement therapy in the United States. In bivariate analysis, blacks were two times (odds ratio [OR], 2.2; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.7, 2.8) more likely than whites to receive hemodialysis versus peritoneal dialysis. After controlling for other patient and facility characteristics in multivariate analysis, black children were still significantly more likely than white children to receive hemodialysis (OR, 2.4; 95% CI, 1.7, 3.5).

CONCLUSIONS

Black race is strongly associated with the use of hemodialysis in children. Family, patient, or provider preferences could account for the difference in choice of therapy by race.