Peritoneal dialysis in the neonate.

The etiology of renal failure in the newborn infant is multifactorial. The increasing survival of low-birthweight infants and the aggressive drug management of pathophysiological disease states such as pulmonary hypertension and patent ductus arteriosus has resulted in an increase in the number of infants presenting with acute renal failure. Experience in our intensive care unit has proved that early intervention with peritoneal dialysis is safe and may significantly reduce both morbidity and mortality in such patients.