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Introduction: The present study aimed to monitor peritoneal neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (pNGAL) during peritonitis episodes and to enhance its diagnostic value by evaluating pNGAL at scheduled times in parallel with white blood cell (WBC) count. In addition, we investigated possible correlations between pNGAL and the etiology of peritonitis, evaluating it as a possible marker of the clinical outcome. Methods: Twenty-two patients with peritoneal dialysis (PD)-related peritonitis were enrolled. Peritonitis was divided into Gram-positive, Gram-negative, polymicrobial, and sterile. WBC count and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) in PD effluent were measured at different times (days 0, 1, 5, 10, 15, and/or 20 and 10 days after antibiotic therapy discontinuation). NGAL was measured by standard quantitative laboratory-based immunoassay and by colorimetric NGAL dipstick (NGALds) (dipstick test). Results: We found strong correlations between peritoneal WBC, laboratory-based NGAL, and NGALds values, both overall and separated at each time point. On day 1, we observed no significant difference in WBC, both NGALds (p = 0.3, 0.9, and 0.2) between Gram-positive, Gram-negative, polymicrobial, and sterile peritonitis. No significant difference has been found between de novo versus relapsing peritonitis for all markers (p > 0.05). We observed a parallel decrease of WBC and both NGAL in patients with favorable outcomes. WBC count and both pNGAL resulted higher in patients with negative outcomes (defined as relapsing peritonitis, peritonitis-associated catheter removal, peritonitis-associated hemodialysis transfer, peritonitis-associated death) at day 10 (p = 0.04, p = 0.03, and p = 0.05, respectively) and day 15 (p = 0.01, p = 0.04, and tendency for p = 0.005). There was a tendency toward higher levels of WBC and NGAL in patients with a negative outcome at day 5. No significant difference in all parameters was proven at day 1 (p = 0.3, p = 0.9, p = 0.2) between groups. Conclusion: This study confirms pNGAL as a valid and reliable biomarker for the diagnosis of PD-peritonitis and its monitoring. Its trend is parallel to WBC count during peritonitis episodes, in particular, patients with unfavorable outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Peritoneal dialysis (PD), as a home treatment, ensures better patient autonomy and lower intrusiveness compared to hemodialysis. However, choosing PD comes with an increased burden of responsibility that the patient may not always be able to bear, due to advanced age and deteriorating health condition. Various approaches have been explored to address this issue and mitigate its primary complications. In this study, we aim to present the ongoing PD training at-home program implemented by the Vicenza PD Center, and evaluate its impact on patients' prognoses. Material and Methods: We enrolled 210 patients who underwent PD at Vicenza Hospital between 1 January 2019 and 1 January 2022 for a minimum of 90 days. Each patient was observed retrospectively for one year. We categorized the patients into three groups based on their level of autonomy regarding their PD management: completely independent patients; patients able to perform some parts of the PD method on their own, while the remaining aspects were carried out by a caregiver; and patients who required complete assistance from a caregiver, like in the assisted PD program (asPD). Results: A total of 70% of the PD population were autonomous regarding their PD therapy, 14% had an intermediate degree of autonomy, and 16% were entirely dependent on caregivers. The PD nurses performed a median of four home visits per patient per year, with a tendency to make more visits to patients with a lower degree of autonomy. All the groups achieved similar clinical outcomes. At the end of the year of observation, only 6% of the patients witnessed a decline in their autonomy level, whereas 7% demonstrated an enhancement in their level of autonomy, and 87% remained stable. Conclusions: A home care assistance program ensures clinical support to a household with the purpose of improving the empowerment of the PD population and reducing the prevalence of assisted PD. Ongoing PD training at home helps patients to maintain a stable degree of autonomy and stay in their home setting, even though they present with relative attitudinal or social barriers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is performed as a home-based treatment and in this context, telemedicine has been proven helpful for improving clinicians' surveillance and maintaining PD patients in their home setting. The new e-health devices make remote patient monitoring (RPM) for automated peritoneal dialysis (APD) treatment possible, evaluating the data at the end of every treatment and adapting the prescription at distance if necessary. This paper aims to share a method for improving clinical surveillance and enabling PD patients to receive their treatment at home. In the present case series, we delineate the clinical protocol of the Vicenza PD Center regarding patient characteristics, timing, and the purpose of the APD-RPM. We present the Vicenza PD Center's experience, illustrating its application through three case reports as exemplars. Telemedicine helps to carefully allocate healthcare resources while removing the barriers to accessing care. However, there is a risk of data overload, as some data might not be analyzed because of an increased workload for healthcare professionals. A proactive physician's attitude towards the e-health system has to be supported by clinical instructions and legislative rules. International and national guidelines may suggest which patients should be candidates for RPM, which parameters should be monitored, and with what timing. According to our experience, we suggest that the care team should define a workflow that helps in formulating a correct approach to RPM, adequately utilizing resources. The workflow has to consider the different needs of patients, in order to assure frequent remote control for incident or unstable patients, while prevalent and stable patients can perform their home treatment more independently, helped by periodic and deferred clinical supervision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: A well-functioning peritoneal catheter is key to success of peritoneal dialysis (PD). The Vicenza "short" catheter is a modified Tenckhoff catheter with a shorter intraperitoneal segment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of catheter-related complications and catheter survival rate using the Vicenza "short" catheter, according to the goals suggested by the International Society for Peritoneal Dialysis (ISPD) guidelines. Second, we compared insertion techniques used in our center. Methods: This is a retrospective cohort, single-center study analyzing incident PD patients undergoing Vicenza "short" peritoneal catheter placement between January 1, 2015, and December 31, 2019. As clinical outcomes, we evaluated catheter patency at 12 months, exit-site/tunnel infection and peritonitis within 30 days of catheter insertion, visceral injury, or significant hemorrhage during the procedure, in accordance with ISPD guidelines. Results: The percentage of patency at 12 months for all catheter insertion methods was 88.91%, and the percentage for laparoscopic placement was 93.75%. The exit-site/tunnel infection and peritonitis occurring within 30 days of catheter insertion were, respectively, 0.75% and 2.2%; the visceral injury leading to intervention was 0.75%. We did not have any case of significant hemorrhage. All results were in line with ISPD guidelines. Conclusion: We conclude that the Vicenza "short" catheter is a suitable device for peritoneal access. The implantation procedure is safe and easy to perform, and both nephrologists and surgeons can do it. A confident use and a proper implantation of the Vicenza "short" catheter help achieve the clinical ISPD goals for the PD access procedure in terms of catheter survival and complication rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Inflammation and serum albumin concentration are both important predictors of survival in patients treated with peritoneal dialysis (PD). Furthermore, systemic and local inflammatory mediators may induce structural and functional alterations in the peritoneal membrane, thus interfering with dialysis adequacy. PD adequacy is monitored primarily by indices of small solute clearance, such as Kt/V urea and weekly creatinine clearance (wCc). The aim of this study was to investigate the possible relationship between pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and serum albumin and C-reactive protein (CRP). Moreover, the relationship between IL-6 and IL-1β and PD adequacy has been analysed. Methods: We enrolled 46 stable PD patients undergoing maintenance PD for a minimum of 3 months. Plasma levels of serum albumin, high-sensitivity (hs)-CRP, IL-6 and IL-1β were measured in all patients.We used weekly Kt/V urea and wCc to monitor PD adequacy. Daily urine volume was measured in all patients. Results: The median values of serum albumin, hs-CRP, IL-6 and IL-1β showed no significant differences between continuous ambulatory PD and automated PD patients. IL-6 levels showed a positive correlation with hs-CRP levels (P < 0.001) and a negative correlation with serum albumin concentration (P = 0.01). There was no statistically significant relationship between IL-1β and hs-CRP or serum albumin concentrations. Subsequently, PD patientswere divided into two groups based on Kt/V urea value. PD patients with Kt/V ≤1.7 had significantly higher IL-6 levels compared with PD patients with Kt/V >1.7 (P = 0.015). No statistically significant relationship between IL-6 and wCc was observed. There was no significant difference in IL-1β levels between PD patients with Kt/V ≤1.7 and with Kt/V >1.7 [median (interquartile range) 0.82 (0.88-5.2) versus 1.82 (0.95-2.7)]. There was no significant difference in IL-6 and IL-1β levels in PD patients with and without residual diuresis (P = 0.32 and P = 0.77, respectively). Conclusion: Our data suggest a possible relationship between serum IL-6 levels and serum albumin and hs-CRP in PD patients. Furthermore, IL-6 seems to be higher in patients with lower Kt/V, thus suggesting a possible use of this inflammatory biomarker in PD adequacy monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]