The artificial kidney and related procedures; a report on clinical experience.

The Skeggs-Leonards artificial kidney and related methods were applied by the author in about thirty instances in patients with various kinds of renal disease. The treatment brought about clinical improvement of varying degree and appeared to be life-saving in four of five patients with acute renal failure. Treatment with the artificial kidney is indicated for patients with acute renal failure who develop clinical signs of uremia. The artificial kidney should be applied before the patient's condition has become irreversible. Removal of edema fluid is possible with modern artificial kidney equipment and appears to extend the therapeutic possibilities of the procedure. The artificial kidney may be of help in barbiturate and other intoxications. It affords temporary palliation in certain patients with chronic uremia; it may be used to overcome acute exacerbations of chronic renal disease; it may make it possible to operate on uremic patients who otherwise could not withstand operation.