Feedback on the benefits of remote patient control in Automated Peritoneal Dialysis in a French peritoneal dialysis center.

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the growing role of telemedicine in home dialysis treatments. Since the appearance of a connected automated peritoneal dialysis (APD) machine (Claria Sharesource Baxter® machine), we have systematically offered this solution to our patients treated with APD. Over the past two years, we have treated 35 patients with connected APD, of which 20 are still under the technique (aged 50 to 87) and represent 54% of the patients on peritoneal dialysis. A questionnaire on five subjects (perception of switching to the connected machine, stress, safety, everyday life, and vacations) was also given to them and showed that 80% of the patients had no stress related to the telemonitoring, while 18 out of 20 patients (90%) felt safe. In 2020, we received 74 phone calls during on-call phone duty, including 42 calls for the 20 patients on connected APD, one all for a patient on normal APD, and 32 calls for 16 patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). Handling errors concerned 42.85% of the calls, system errors concerned 4.76%, program validation concerned 7.14%, and connection problems concerned 9.52%. We were thus able to correct several problems remotely, such as drainage problems, weight gain, blood pressure imbalance, poor compliance, and connection problems. Thanks to the platform, we are notified daily of a possible problem. This saves the nurses time and allows them to deal with other issues. The way we educate patients and assist private nurses has not changed. Indeed, only the connection to the network as well as the entry of the weight and arterial pressure were added, and the disposables remained the same. Night or day, or in times of a health crisis, we can provide a rapid and targeted response to the patients’ questions, thanks to the platform.