Along with hemodialysis, continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD), which performs the work of the kidneys, is used in treating chronic renal failure. CAPD (hereafter referred to as PD) can be conveniently done at the patient's home.Other advantages of it include less adveres effects on the cardiovascular system as homeostasis of body fluid is maintained;less dietary restriction;reduction in the frequency of outpatient treatment;availability of a system suited to the patient's lifestyle;and being comparatively easy to return to work. Nonetheless, home PD patients remain at risk of peritonitis, exit-site infection, and undernutrition due to protein-losing enteropathy. Moreover, patients may feel that they have gotten wary of taking care of themselve. Recently, we have come upon a case of end-stage renal failure in a 59-year-old articular rheumatic who was unable to exchange dialysis bags because her finger joints were deformed. So, we applied a PD system using the SMAP method to the patient with the result that she became able to manage to operate the PD by herself.Our patient wished to take it upon herself to perform PD using a UV-F twin-bag system. Ordinarily, bags have to be exchanged four times a day and every time bags are exchanged, several clamping procedures are required. It was impossible for her to exchange bags because of deformed finger joints. To make the impossible possible, a supplementary device for exchanging bags had to be fixed. It was also necessary for her to learn how to manipulate the newly attached device in addition to the existing device. With the SMAP method, there is plenty of time before PD gets started. So it was possible to examine the self-management method thoroughly and learn the trick of operating the new device. Our experience showed that PD by the SMAP method is useful to articular rheumatic patients with finger joint deformities.
PUPILLARY DISTANCE ; Patients ; Peritoneal Dialysis, Continuous Ambulatory ; Fingers ; Joints