History of Peritoneal Dialysis in Latin America

Latin America is a region formed by a number of countries of Latin heritage in which the common languages spoken are Spanish and Portuguese. Latin America was not isolated from the evolution of peritoneal dialysis (PD) throughout the rest of the world, as evidenced by the fact that, between the 1940s and the 1960s, PD was used to treat acute renal failure patients and later for the intermittent treatment of end-stage renal failure patients. The true development of PD took place toward the end of the 1970s and beginning of the 1980s with the introduction of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD).

It is evident that the introduction of CAPD in most countries was a result of the personal effort and interest of individuals or groups of nephrologists. Initially, PD was not always implemented under ideal circumstances; locally manufactured, improvised supplies were associated with poor results. The arrival of companies with appropriate equipment and supplies led to widespread dissemination of this new modality. Furthermore, regulations and reimbursement by health authorities were additional obstacles.

It is clear that PD in Latin America is still largely utilized to treat acute renal failure patients, particularly in countries where hemodialysis is not readily available. It is still employed intermittently to manage end-stage renal failure patients when hemodialysis is not available. With the exception of Colombia and Mexico, CAPD penetration is below 10%.

While CAPD is nonexistent in certain countries, such as Cuba, due to lack of supplies, in other countries, such as Chile, it is restricted to patients that cannot be placed or continued on hemodialysis, those for example who lack vascular access, or those from remote rural areas. In addition, automated PD is relatively more costly and is therefore restricted in some countries.