Feasibility of universal home haemodialysis with simplified techniques.

Maintenance haemodialysis was offered to an unselected series of patients presenting with end-stage renal disease between 1975 and 1982. Of the initial 283 patients, 274 started on haemodialysis, and 89% of these were alive and available for follow-up beyond the first 3 months of treatment. 98% of the latter eventually achieved permanent home haemodialysis with a system using simplified dialysis equipment and procedures, together with training methods designed to reinforce patient motivation. Universal home haemodialysis is now feasible when appropriate techniques are used.