Long-term successful management of refractory congestive cardiac failure by intermittent ambulatory peritoneal ultrafiltration

Despite advances in the pharmacological management of cardiac failure, some patients remain refractory to this therapy. However, improved understanding of the physiology and technique of peritoneal dialysis has recently allowed ambulatory peritoneal ultrafiltration to be applied to the treatment of patients with intractable heart failure. We report the management of three such patients with New York Heart Association (NYHA) class IV cardiac failure, each with a left ventricular ejection fraction < 20%. They had become unresponsive to maximum pharmacological management with inotropes, diuretics and ACE inhibitors. All patients had biochemical evidence of pre-renal azotemia. Initially, patients received aggressive ultrafiltration by continuous veno-venous haemofiltration (CVVH) or one- to two-hourly peritoneal dialysis exchanges until they achieved an optimal dry body weight. Once stabilized, they were converted to an intermittent ambulatory peritoneal ultrafiltration (IAPU) regimen of one to three exchanges per 24 h according to their individual needs. During an 18 ± 10-month follow-up, their duration of hospital confinement was reduced by 85% and all three patients improved from class IV to class II cardiac failure. IAPU may have a useful role in the long-term management of intractable heart failure in a selected group of patients.