Acute Kidney Disease (AKD) commonly affects disadvantaged populations in low-resourced areas with poor access to kidney care. Here, barriers to management include a lack of AKD education alongside an inability to measure serum creatinine (SCr) to identify kidney disease. The Kidney Care Network (KCN) is a service improvement initiative which aims to implement a novel strategy for the management of AKD into routine clinical care in low- and low-middle income countries (LLMICs). The strategy includes the development of a scoring system to screen patients for risk of AKD and the use of a device to measure SCr at the point-of-care (POC). This approach is underpinned by dedicated AKD training activities for healthcare workers providing front line clinical care. We report feasibility in the implementation of the KCN approach in adults in 4 LLMICs. Between 2018-2020, 4311 patients at project sites in Bolivia, Brazil, Nepal, and South Africa were deemed at risk of kidney disease and underwent SCr testing, predominantly with the POC device. AKD was identified in 2922 (67.8%) patients. AKD was most commonly due to infections and hypovolemia, and as such was treatable by relatively simple means. Most patients with AKD were treated at the site of patient presentation, including rural primary healthcare facilities, and with early AKD identification the need for kidney replacement therapy was low. In-hospital mortality was only 2.9% and follow-up occurred at 3 months in 1865 (62.3%) patients discharged post AKD diagnosis. Hence, we show the KCN approach is a feasible and effective mechanism for improving AKD management in LLMICs.

Background The International Society of Nephrology proposes an acute kidney disease (AKD) management strategy that includes a risk score to aid AKD identification in low- and low-middle-income countries (LLMICs). We investigated the performance of the risk score and determined kidney and patient outcomes from AKD at multiple LLMIC sites. Methods and findings Adult patients presenting to healthcare facilities in Bolivia, Brazil, South Africa, and Nepal were screened using a symptom-based risk score and clinical judgment. Those at AKD risk underwent serum creatinine testing, predominantly with a point-of-care (POC) device. Clinical data were collected prospectively between September 2018 and November 2020. We analyzed risk score performance and determined AKD outcomes at discharge and over follow-up of 90 days. A total of 4,311 patients were at increased risk of AKD, and 2,922 (67.8%) had AKD confirmed. AKD prevalence was 80.2% in patients enrolled based on the risk score and 32.5% when enrolled on clinical judgment alone (p < 0.0001). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.73 for the risk score to detect AKD. Death during admission occurred in 84 (2.9%) patients with AKD and 3 (0.2%) patients without kidney disease (p < 0.0001). Death after discharge occurred in 206 (9.7%) AKD patients, and 1865 AKD patients underwent reassessment of kidney function after discharge; 902 (48.4%) patients had persistent kidney disease including 740 (39.7%) patients reclassified with de novo or previously undiagnosed chronic kidney disease (CKD). The study was pragmatically designed to assess outcomes as part of routine healthcare, and there was heterogeneity in clinical practice and outcomes between sites, in addition to selection bias during cohort identification. Conclusions The use of a risk score can aid AKD identification in LLMICs. High rates of persistent kidney disease and mortality after discharge highlight the importance of AKD follow-up in low-resource settings.

1Division of Nephrology, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada 2Department of Renal and Solid Organ Transplantation, Red Cross War Memorial Childrens Hospital, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa Correspondence: Dr. Christopher T. Chan, email: [email protected] See related article, "Lower Dosage Acute Peritoneal Dialysis versus Acute Intermittent Hemodialysis in Acute Kidney Injury: A Randomized Controlled Trial," on pages 970–977.

It is estimated that >50% of patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) in low-resource countries are unable to access dialysis. When hemodialysis is available, it often has high out-of-pocket expenditure and is seldom delivered to the standard recommended by international guidelines. Hemodialysis is a high-cost intervention with significant negative effects on environmental sustainability, especially in resource-poor countries (the ones most likely to be affected by resultant climate change). This review discusses the rationale for peritoneal dialysis (PD) as a more resource and environmentally efficient treatment with the potential to improve dialysis access, especially to vulnerable populations, including women and children, in lower-resource countries. Successful initiatives such as the Saving Young Lives program have demonstrated the benefit of PD for acute kidney injury. This can then serve as a foundation for later development of PD services for end-stage kidney disease programs in these countries. Expansion of PD programs in resource-poor countries has proven to be challenging for various reasons. It is hoped that if some of these issues can be addressed, PD will be able to permit an expansion of end-stage kidney disease care in these countries.

The International Society of Nephrology (ISN) 0by25 Initiative calls for global strategies to diagnose and treat kidney disease (KD) in patients with potentially reversible causes, especially in Low- and Low-middle income countries (LLMICs). Based on outcomes from the 0by25 Pilot Feasibility Study, the Kidney Care Network (KCN) project aims to implement a strategy to identify and manage KD as part of routine clinical care. We report the results from this implementation project in 4 LLMICs.

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) catheter-related infections are important risk factors for catheter loss and peritonitis. The 2023 updated recommendations have revised and clarified definitions and classifications of exit site infection and tunnel infection. A new target for the overall exit site infection rate should be no more than 0.40 episodes per year at risk. The recommendation about topical antibiotic cream or ointment to catheter exit site has been downgraded. New recommendations include clarified suggestion of exit site dressing cover and updated antibiotic treatment duration with emphasis on early clinical monitoring to ascertain duration of therapy. In addition to catheter removal and reinsertion, other catheter interventions including external cuff removal or shaving, and exit site relocation are suggested.

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) for acute kidney injury (AKI) has been available for nearly 80 years and has been through periods of use and disuse largely determined by availability of other modalities of kidney replacement therapy and the relative enthusiasm of clinicians. In the past 10 years there has been a resurgence in the use of acute PD globally, facilitated by promotion of PD for AKI in lower resource countries by nephrology organizations effected through the Saving Young Lives program and collaborations with the World Health Organisation, the development of guidelines standardizing prescribing practices and finally the COVID-19 pandemic. This review highlights the history of PD for AKI and looks at misconceptions about efficacy as well as the available evidence demonstrating that acute PD is a safe and lifesaving therapy with comparable outcomes to other modalities of treatment.

Barriers to accessing home dialysis became a matter of life and death for many patients with kidney failure during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is the more commonly used home therapy option. This article provides a comprehensive analysis of PD catheter insertion procedures as performed around the world today, barriers impacting timely access to the procedure, the impact of COVID-19 and a roadmap of potential policy solutions. To substantiate the analysis, the article includes a survey of institutions across the world, with questions designed to get a sense of the regulatory frameworks, barriers to conducting the procedure and impacts of the pandemic on capability and outcomes. Based on our research, we found that improving patient selection processes, determining and implementing correct insertion techniques, creating multidisciplinary teams, providing appropriate training and sharing decision making among stakeholders will improve access to PD catheter insertion and facilitate greater uptake of home dialysis. Additionally, on a policy level, we recommend efforts to improve the awareness and feasibility of PD among patients and the healthcare workforce, enhance and promulgate training for clinicians-both surgical and medical-to insert PD catheters and fund personnel, pathways and physical facilities for PD catheter insertion.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is estimated to occur in approximately 13.3 million patients per year with an estimated mortality of 1.7 million. Approximately 85% of cases occur in low-resource settings where access to kidney replacement therapy (KRT) may be limited or nonexistent. The true extent of AKI, including access to KRT in developing countries, is largely unknown because appropriate systems are not in place to detect AKI or report it. Barriers to provision of KRT in low-resource settings revolve around systems management and funding, however, there also are region-specific issues. This review focuses on the epidemiology, obstacles, and solutions to improving access to KRT for AKI.

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) as an AKI treatment in adults was widely accepted in critical care settings well into the 1980s. The advent of extracorporeal continuous KRT led to widespread decline in the use of PD for AKI across high-income countries. The lack of familiarity and comfort with the use of PD in critical care settings has also led to lack of use even among those receiving maintenance PD. Many critical care units reflexively convert patients receiving maintenance PD to alternative dialysis therapies at admission. Renewed interest in the use of PD for AKI therapy has emerged due to its increasing use in low- and middle-income countries. In high-income countries, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, saw PD for AKI used early on, where many critical care units were in crisis and relied on PD use when resources for other AKI therapy modalities were limited. In this review, we highlight advantages and disadvantages of PD in critical care settings and indications and contraindications for its use. We provide an overview of literature to support both PD treatment during AKI and its continuation as a maintenance therapy during critical illness. For AKI therapy, we further discuss establishment of PD access, PD prescription management, and complication monitoring and treatment. Finally, we discuss expansion in the use of PD for AKI therapy extending beyond its role during times of resource constraints.

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) as an AKI treatment in adults was widely accepted in critical care settings well into the 1980s. The advent of extracorporeal continuous KRT led to widespread decline in the use of PD for AKI across high-income countries. The lack of familiarity and comfort with the use of PD in critical care settings has also led to lack of use even among those receiving maintenance PD. Many critical care units reflexively convert patients receiving maintenance PD to alternative dialysis therapies at admission. Renewed interest in the use of PD for AKI therapy has emerged due to its increasing use in low- and middle-income countries. In high-income countries, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, saw PD for AKI used early on, where many critical care units were in crisis and relied on PD use when resources for other AKI therapy modalities were limited. In this review, we highlight advantages and disadvantages of PD in critical care settings and indications and contraindications for its use. We provide an overview of literature to support both PD treatment during AKI and its continuation as a maintenance therapy during critical illness. For AKI therapy, we further discuss establishment of PD access, PD prescription management, and complication monitoring and treatment. Finally, we discuss expansion in the use of PD for AKI therapy extending beyond its role during times of resource constraints.

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is an important home-based treatment for kidney failure and accounts for 11% of all dialysis and 9% of all kidney replacement therapy globally. Although PD is available in 81% of countries, this provision ranges from 96% in high-income countries to 32% in low-income countries. Compared with haemodialysis, PD has numerous potential advantages, including a simpler technique, greater feasibility of use in remote communities, generally lower cost, lesser need for trained staff, fewer management challenges during natural disasters, possibly better survival in the first few years, greater ability to travel, fewer dietary restrictions, better preservation of residual kidney function, greater treatment satisfaction, better quality of life, better outcomes following subsequent kidney transplantation, delayed need for vascular access (especially in small children), reduced need for erythropoiesis-stimulating agents, and lower risk of blood-borne virus infections and of SARS-CoV-2 infection. PD outcomes have been improving over time but with great variability, driven by individual and system-level inequities and by centre effects; this variation is exacerbated by a lack of standardized outcome definitions. Potential strategies for outcome improvement include enhanced standardization, monitoring and reporting of PD outcomes, and the implementation of continuous quality improvement programmes and of PD-specific interventions, such as incremental PD, the use of biocompatible PD solutions and remote PD monitoring.

The International Society of Nephrology’s (ISN) 0 by 25 policy aims to eliminate preventable deaths from acute kidney injury (AKI) worldwide by 2025. One of the barriers to this aim is detection of AKI in a timely fashion prior to developing complications. The ISN Kidney Care Network (KCN) project is trialling the use of AKI screening and point of care (POC) creatinine testing to expedite detection of AKI.

Community-acquired acute kidney injury (AKI) is common, but often unrecognized in resource-constrained settings. Limited lab assessments and lack of information on the prior state of kidney health contribute to this lack of recognition. In this study, we evaluated the cause of AKI in patients in whom AKI was suspected and then verified at initial presentation with point-of-care (POC) serum creatinine (sCr) testing.

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) for acute kidney injury (AKI) in children has a long track record and shows similar outcomes when compared to extracorporeal therapies. It is still used extensively in low resource settings as well as in some high resource regions especially in Europe. In these regions, there is particular interest in the use of PD for AKI in post cardiac surgery neonates and low birthweight neonates. Here, we present the update of the International Society for Peritoneal Dialysis guidelines for PD in AKI in paediatrics. These guidelines extensively review the available literature and present updated recommendations regarding peritoneal access, dialysis solutions and prescription of dialysis. Summary of recommendations 1.1 Peritoneal dialysis is a suitable renal replacement therapy modality for treatment of acute kidney injury in children. (1C) 2. Access and fluid delivery for acute PD in children. 2.1 We recommend a Tenckhoff catheter inserted by a surgeon in the operating theatre as the optimal choice for PD access. (1B) (optimal) 2.2 Insertion of a PD catheter with an insertion kit and using Seldinger technique is an acceptable alternative. (1C) (optimal) 2.3 Interventional radiological placement of PD catheters combining ultrasound and fluoroscopy is an acceptable alternative. (1D) (optimal) 2.4 Rigid catheters placed using a stylet should only be used when soft Seldinger catheters are not available, with the duration of use limited to <3 days to minimize the risk of complications. (1C) (minimum standard) 2.5 Improvised PD catheters should only be used when no standard PD access is available. (practice point) (minimum standard) 2.6 We recommend the use of prophylactic antibiotics prior to PD catheter insertion. (1B) (optimal) 2.7 A closed delivery system with a Y connection should be used. (1A) (optimal) A system utilizing buretrols to measure fill and drainage volumes should be used when performing manual PD in small children. (practice point) (optimal) 2.8 In resource limited settings, an open system with spiking of bags may be used; however, this should be designed to limit the number of potential sites for contamination and ensure precise measurement of fill and drainage volumes. (practice point) (minimum standard) 2.9 Automated peritoneal dialysis is suitable for the management of paediatric AKI, except in neonates for whom fill volumes are too small for currently available machines. (1D) 3. Peritoneal dialysis solutions for acute PD in children 3.1 The composition of the acute peritoneal dialysis solution should include dextrose in a concentration designed to achieve the target ultrafiltration. (practice point) 3.2 Once potassium levels in the serum fall below 4 mmol/l, potassium should be added to dialysate using sterile technique. (practice point) (optimal) If no facilities exist to measure the serum potassium, consideration should be given for the empiric addition of potassium to the dialysis solution after 12 h of continuous PD to achieve a dialysate concentration of 3–4 mmol/l. (practice point) (minimum standard) 3.3 Serum concentrations of electrolytes should be measured 12 hourly for the first 24 h and daily once stable. (practice point) (optimal) In resource poor settings, sodium and potassium should be measured daily, if practical. (practice point) (minimum standard) 3.4 In the setting of hepatic dysfunction, hemodynamic instability and persistent/worsening metabolic acidosis, it is preferable to use bicarbonate containing solutions. (1D) (optimal) Where these solutions are not available, the use of lactate containing solutions is an alternative. (2D) (minimum standard) 3.5 Commercially prepared dialysis solutions should be used. (1C) (optimal) However, where resources do not permit this, locally prepared fluids may be used with careful observation of sterile preparation procedures and patient outcomes (e.g. rate of peritonitis). (1C) (minimum standard) 4. Prescription of acute PD in paediatric patients 4.1 The initial fill volume should be limited to 10–20 ml/kg to minimize the risk of dialysate leakage; a gradual increase in the volume to approximately 30–40 ml/kg (800–1100 ml/m2) may occur as tolerated by the patient. (practice point) 4.2 The initial exchange duration, including inflow, dwell and drain times, should generally be every 60–90 min; gradual prolongation of the dwell time can occur as fluid and solute removal targets are achieved. In neonates and small infants, the cycle duration may need to be reduced to achieve adequate ultrafiltration. (practice point) 4.3 Close monitoring of total fluid intake and output is mandatory with a goal to achieve and maintain normotension and euvolemia. (1B) 4.4 Acute PD should be continuous throughout the full 24-h period for the initial 1–3 days of therapy. (1C) 4.5 Close monitoring of drug dosages and levels, where available, should be conducted when providing acute PD. (practice point) 5. Continuous flow peritoneal dialysis (CFPD) 5.1 Continuous flow peritoneal dialysis can be considered as a PD treatment option when an increase in solute clearance and ultrafiltration is desired but cannot be achieved with standard acute PD. Therapy with this technique should be considered experimental since experience with the therapy is limited. (practice point) 5.2 Continuous flow peritoneal dialysis can be considered for dialysis therapy in children with AKI when the use of only very small fill volumes is preferred (e.g. children with high ventilator pressures). (practice point)

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is a modality frequently preferred by patients for the management of their end-stage kidney disease; however, a major factor in its success is PD catheter placement and subsequent function. Optimal placement of PD catheters is generally accepted to be in the true pelvis, for this reason, many patients who are found to have a pelvic cavity obliterated by adhesions are often denied the opportunity to do PD. We report on four cases of an alternative advanced laparoscopic technique used in patients with inaccessible pelvic cavities, with three catheter placements in the intraperitoneal left iliac fossa/paracolic gutter and one case in the right paracolic gutter with subsequent good outcomes. This report suggests that a 'frozen pelvis' is not a contraindication to successful PD, with alternative catheter tip placement in the iliac fossa.

Community-acquired acute kidney injury (AKI) is common, but often unrecognized in resource-constrained settings. Limited education about kidney disease and unavailability of diagnostic tests contribute to this lack of recognition. In this study, we evaluated the feasibility of an education program, coupled with the use of a point-of-care (POC) serum creatinine (sCr), to identify and guide the management of patients with kidney dysfunction presenting to community health centers (CHC) and emergency departments (ED) in low-resource settings.