Nutritional support during peritoneal dialysis-related peritonitis.
Early intravenous (IV) hyperalimentation was used in seven patients who had peritonitis associated with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). Results were compared with those in a control group of seven nonperitonitis CAPD patients. Nitrogen balance was measured to determine whether this therapy was effective in nutritional maintenance during an episode of peritonitis. IV nutrition accounted for 70% to 80% of nitrogen intake. Caloric intake was similar in both groups (34 and 32 calories/d/kg). The control group received 22 g/d of nitrogen and the peritonitis group 17 g/d (P less than 0.05). Nitrogen losses in dialysate were 12.6 g/d in the control group and 13.6 g/d in the peritonitis group. The mean nitrogen balance (intake - output) was 9.5 g/d in controls and 3.7 g/d in the peritonitis group.