Faculty Bibliography

Background:The COVID-19 pandemic strained hospital resources in New York City, including those for providing dialysis. New York University Medical Center and affiliations, including New York City Health and Hospitals/Bellevue, developed a plan to offset the increased needs for KRT. We established acute peritoneal dialysis (PD) capability, as usual dialysis modalities were overwhelmed by COVID-19 AKI. Methods:Observational study of patients requiring KRT admitted to Bellevue Hospital during the COVID surge. Bellevue Hospital is one of the largest public hospitals in the United States, providing medical care to an underserved population. There were substantial staff, supplies, and equipment shortages. Adult patients admitted with AKI who required KRT were considered for PD. We rapidly established an acute PD program. A surgery team placed catheters at the bedside in the intensive care unit; a nephrology team delivered treatment. We provided an alternative to hemodialysis and continuous venovenous hemofiltration for treating patients in the intensive-care unit, demonstrating efficacy with outcomes comparable to standard care. Results:From April 8, 2020 to May 8, 2020, 39 catheters were placed into ten women and 29 men. By June 10, 39% of the patients started on PD recovered kidney function (average ages 56 years for men and 59.5 years for women); men and women who expired were an average 71.8 and 66.2 years old. No episodes of peritonitis were observed; there were nine incidents of minor leaking. Some patients were treated while ventilated in the prone position. Conclusions:Demand compelled us to utilize acute PD during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our experience is one of the largest recently reported in the United States of which we are aware. Acute PD provided lifesaving care to acutely ill patients when expanding current resources was impossible. Our experience may help other programs to avoid rationing dialysis treatments in health crises.

Background: Due to increased risk for infection, fluid leak, metabolic complications and poor uremic solute clearance, concerns have been raised in using peritoneal dialysis in obese patients. However, due to unprecedented need for renal replacement therapy (RRT) in New York City during the COVID-19 pandemic, acute peritoneal dialysis (APD) was initiated in patients regardless of body mass index (BMI).
Method(s): 36 patients who received PD between April 8, 2020 and May 8,2020 were categorized into 3 groups based on BMI calculated using admission height and weight. Group 1 with BMI < 30, Group 2 with BMI 30-40 and Group 3 with BMI > 40 kg/ m². Treatment goals included correction of hyperkalemia, hyperphosphatemia, acid-base abnormalities, reduction in blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine and maintaining euvolemia. All patients were initially started on manual exchanges every 1-2 hours (Total volume 10-13L/24 hours) and eventually most were changed to automated PD (Total volume 18-20L/24 hours). We compared the frequency of treatment-related complications among the groups.
Result(s): Of the 36 patients, 13 had BMI < 30, 18 patients had BMI 30-40, and 5 had BMI > 40, one of whom had BMI > 50 kg/ m². Patients showed improvement in serum creatinine, BUN, phosphorus, potassium, and bicarbonate. All had adequate ultrafiltration and improved volume status after optimization of PD prescription. No differences were observed between groups in achievement of treatment goals. No patients in any group required discontinuation of PD because of treatment-related complications or insufficient dialysis.
Conclusion(s): Acute PD was successfully performed in obese, and morbidly obese patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. Treatment goals were achieved based on relevant parameters and there were no increases of treatment related complications compared to non-obese patients. Acute PD should not be restricted based on elevated BMI