Hemodialysis for Chronic Renal Failure

Abstract

REPETITIVE maintenance hemodialysis can be a satisfactory means of life prolongation and rehabilitation for selected patients with terminal, irreversible renal failure.¹This communication summarizes the experience of a program of intermittent maintenance hemodialysis for 21 patients treated for periods of one to 21 months, as of July 1966. <h3>Methods</h3> Patients were selected for maintenance hemodialysis by a committee composed of the authors. Selection criteria included (1) presence of terminal, irreversible renal failure of such severity that conservative management would not support life, (2) absence of other life-threatening diseases, (3) a sufficient degree of understanding and motivation on the part of the patient suggesting his ability to participate in continuing hemodialysis without forseeable ending. Twenty of the patients selected were residents of New York city, and one patient was referred from Israel. Approximately one third of the patients reviewed by the committee were rejected. The most frequent reason for rejection