The experience and the current practice of a single center located in northern Italy is reported. The center of Vicenza is a self-standing nephrologic unit serving a population of about 300,000 individuals. The overall province counts approximately 800,000 individuals and some of them are referred to our center from peripheral hospitals for renal transplantation and/or particular pathologic conditions. The center offers an integrated approach to the treatment of uremia including hemodialysis (HD), peritoneal dialysis (PD), and renal transplantation. In HD and PD, the most peculiar aspect is the treatment personalization that leads to numerous types of applied therapies and technologies. The policy of the center is based on the belief that the nephrology team has a substantial influence on the outcomes of dialysis patients. A large number of treatment options are available. Special care is placed on the delivery of an adequate amount of dialysis, but the fractional clearance of urea in relation to volume (Kt/V) is seen as a prerequisite and other factors are considered important. Reduction in mortality and morbidity is largely dependent on beginning therapy early in the course of renal treatment. The attainment of appropriate hemoglobin concentrations, good nutrition, good control of calcium and phosphorus metabolism, lipids, and blood pressure, is considered of great importance. Beyond all these factors the time spent by the physician with the patient is considered one of the major factors influencing quality of care. The particularly low mortality of the center (6%/yr) may also be ascribed to a lower incidence of diabetes and other comorbidities.
Copyright 2001 by W.B. Saunders Company