Due to increasing numbers of children requiring maintenance hemodialysis, lack of pediatric nephrologists and distance from pediatric dialysis facilities, some children are receiving dialysis therapy in adult programs. According to the United States Renal Data System (USRDS, 2007), there were 7,288 children with chronic kidney disease (CKD) Stage 5 in 2005. Of those, 1292 were on hemodialysis, 892 on peritoneal dialysis, and 5104 were transplanted. Currently, in the U.S., there are 354 adult and pediatric dialysis units providing incenter hemodialysis to pediatric patients.
We currently provide maintenance dialysis to 68 patients at Texas Children's Hospital in Houston, ...