Centre for training in dialysis procedures inaugurated

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, OCT. 2. A centre for training kidney patients in the continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) procedures was inaugurated at the Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS) by its Director, Dr. Kakarla Subba Rao, here on Tuesday.

Located in the Millennium Block, the Integrated CAPD centre is equipped with a portable automated cycler, a colour TV and a video CD player to help the patient and their attendants in learning this `self-dialysis' procedure.

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) involves placing a catheter through the abdominal wall by a minor surgery and filling the peritoneal cavity with two to three litres of solution. Waste products pass or filter from the bloodstream through the peritoneal membrane and into the dialysis solution. The used dialysis solution is drained from the cavity and replaced with fresh solution.

It is distinct from haemodialysis which is done outside the body and uses a patient's own blood supply and a kidney machine but performs the same function of replacing the lost kidney function of cleaning the blood of waste products, filtering excess water and balancing electrolytes in the blood.

Dr. Subba Rao and Dr. K. V. Dakshina Murthy, Head, Department of Nephrology, told reporters that the patient or one dedicated attendant is trained over a period of one to two weeks in manual or automatic dialysis. The former (CAPD) involves self-dialysis with four to five exchanges a day (each lasting 30 minutes) while in APD the exchanges of dialysis solution are done by a machine (portable variety costing Rs. 3.25 lakhs), which can be connected at bed time, for 10 hours each night. The monthly cost of CAPD solutions is around Rs. 16,000, down from Rs. 28,000 earlier.

Admitting that the cost remained high and beyond the reach of the poor, Dr. Subba Rao mooted the idea of creating a kidney fund with contributions from philanthropists and NIMS. He disclosed that NIMS was seeking legal opinion whether it could invite tenders for allotment of medical shops in its campus following complaints against the present contractor.

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Section  : Southern States
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