Summary
Certain of the uremic states respond with gratifying clinical improvement to dialysis with the artificial kidney. In acute renal insufficiency, the procedure, if properly employed, may be a valuable adjunct to conservative management and occasionally in acute spontaneous potassium intoxication have a distinct advantage over other methods of treatment. The chronic uremic patient whose debility is due primarily to retention of metabolite may improve dramatically though temporarily following the procedure. Where the clinical situation is not in large part due to these derangements, hemodialysis should be expected to have very little effect upon the clinical course. In any consideration of the benefits to be achieved by this procedure, an understanding of the lack of indication and the contraindications are of utmost importance.
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