Dialysis dose and patient age are well known factors on HD patient survival. For different reasons in satellite units the precribed session time has been shorter than hospital units.Longer time dialysis sessions is now advice as an important survival factor.
We analyzed,retrospectively, our experience during 25 yrs on patients survival in a satellite unit. Since september 1974 to december 1999, 344 pts were studied (208 males and 136 women), 15.4% diabetics.
Patients were dialyzed thricely at week, session time 3.5 h (3.5-6h range), bicarbonate buffer since 1989 in all patients. Membranes surface since 1982 > 1.2 m2, >1.5 m2 since 1988, >1.9 m2 since 1992. Dialysis time was not modified in relation to Kt/V.
We analyzed actuarial patient survival at 5 and 10 yrs in relation to age at start of HD, gender and diabetic condition. Data were processed with SPSS 9.0 software package. A Kaplan-Meier test was used. A p value at 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
