This publication contains the most recent findings in the field as presented by the outstanding faculty of the 2012 International Vicenza Course on Peritoneal Dialysis. After 30 years, this course is still one of the main educational events in the field of peritoneal dialysis as well as other disciplines including CKD, hemodialysis and critical care nephrology. The publication of the book in time for the course represents another success of the Vicenza team. The experts of the world and the related industry met in Vicenza for this important anniversary which is celebrated by this book representing not only a milestone in the history of the Department of Nephrology and the International Renal Research Institute of Vicenza, but also and above all an extraordinary educational tool for all physicians and nurses interested in peritoneal dialysis today.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is an established risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Stroke, on the other hand, is not only a major player in cardiovascular disease, but it also has strong two-way relationships with CKD. Moreover, subclinical cerebral abnormalities are also associated with CKD. But despite all these connections, the cerebro-renal interaction has so far not received much attention. This book includes easily understandable reviews on brain, stroke and kidney by both experts in nephrology and neurology. Examined are underlying concepts for cerebro-renal interaction, risk of clinical and subclinical brain damage in CKD patients, primary prevention and acute/chronic management for stroke patients with CKD and end-stage kidney disease.This book promotes not only further understanding and a multidisciplinary collaboration between nephrologists and neurologists, but it is also of interest for neurosurgeons and cardiologists.

Not only are dialysis access creation and maintenance prone to complications, but patients suffering from end-stage renal disease and its comorbidities generally have a high risk of adverse events during their continuous treatment. Preventive strategies are key to avoid harm and to improve the outcome of the treatment of the growing number of patients with chronic kidney failure, especially as doctors and nurses are not always aware of the consequences of unsafe behavior. This publication is intended for health care professionals – nurses as well as doctors – and aims to raise the awareness of patient safety aspects, combining medical education with evidence-based medicine. After a general overview of the topic, an international panel of authors provides a diversified insight into important concepts and technical tricks essential to create and maintain a functional dialysis access.

Telemedicine and remote patient monitoring are innovative tools to provide remote transmission, interpretation, and storage of data for review by the care team. These tools allow for accurate home monitoring of patients enabling the team to improve care through prevention and early identification of problems. This book is structured into four main parts. The first describes the evolution of peritoneal dialysis and related technology. The second part summarizes current unmet clinical needs reported by patients and care teams, the need for innovation in the field, and the technical and clinical issues involved with the modern management of peritoneal dialysis. The third section presents the operational characteristics of the new information communication technology system and, in detail, the features of the Sharesource platform. Finally, a series of field experiences by expert users are reported to describe the benefits and the potential applications of remote patient monitoring in the future. Telemedicine and remote patient monitoring have proven to be useful in the care of patients on peritoneal dialysis. The scope of this publication, therefore, is to present the experiences of clinical key opinion leaders who have been using the application.

In 1986 the first edition of Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis, edited by R. Gokal, was published. In 1989 the third edition of Peritoneal Dialysis, edited by K.D. Nolph, was published. Both books were widely recognized for their comprehensive discussion of this particular field. Rather than edit new editions of each of these books separately, two of the most prominent figures in this field have decided to combine their knowledge and enthusiasm in this single book: The Textbook of Peritoneal Dialysis. The book is unique in its detailed discussion of a complete range of topics, including new advances in our understanding of the physiology of peritoneal dialysis, peritoneal dialysis kinetics, clinical results and a chapter dealing with the concepts of intraperitoneal chemotherapy. These examples of the dynamic nature of the field further illustrate the importance of this textbook, and make it required reading for everybody working within the field of peritoneal dialysis.

Comprehensive and clinically relevant, the 3rd Edition of Critical Care Nephrology provides authoritative coverage of the latest advances in critical care procedures for patients with renal diseases or disorders. Using common guidelines and standardized approaches to critically ill patients, this multidisciplinary reference facilitates better communication among all physicians who care for critically ill patients suffering from kidney disease, electrolyte and metabolic imbalances, poisoning, severe sepsis, major organ dysfunction, and other pathological events. - Offers detailed discussions of different forms of organ support, artificial organs, infections, acute illness occurring in chronic hemodialysis patients, and much more. - Places a special emphasis on therapeutic interventions and treatment procedures for a hands on clinical reference tool. - Presents information clearly, in a format designed for easy reference – from basic sciences to clinical syndromes to diagnostic tools. - Covers special populations such as children, diabetic patients, and the elderly. - An exceptional resource for nephrologists, intensivists, surgeons, or critical care physicians – anyone who treats critically ill renal patients. - Shares a combined commitment to excellence lead by Drs. Claudio Ronco, Rinaldo Bellomo, John Kellum, and Zaccaria Ricci – unparalleled leaders in this field. - Addresses key topics with expanded coverage of acute kidney injury, stress biomarkers, and sepsis, including the latest developments on mechanisms and management. - Provides up-to-date information on extracorporeal therapies from new editor Dr. Zaccaria Ricci. - Expert ConsultTM eBook version included with purchase. This enhanced eBook experience allows you to search all of the text, figures, and references from the book on a variety of devices.