Nephrol Dial Transplant (2003) 18: 1726-1730
© 2003 European Renal Association-European Dialysis and Transplant Association
Historical Note
May 1954: the first ever symposium on the artificial kidney
Divisione di Nefrologia, Ospedale Maggiore, IRCCS, Milano, Italy
Correspondence and offprint requests to: Giovanni B. Fogazzi, Divisione di Nefrologia, Ospedale Maggiore, IRCCS, Via Commenda 15, 20122 Milano, Italy. Email: fogazzi@policlinico.mi.it
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Introduction
‘The first symposium on the artificial kidney’ took place on May 1 and 2, 1954, in Rapallo, a nice little town on the Riviera near Genoa, Italy. This was the first meeting organized on the subject not only in Italy and Europe, but most probably also throughout the whole world. It represents today an important ‘historical probe’, which allows us to penetrate and analyse all aspects concerning the use of the artificial kidney in the early 1950s.
This paper describes the main aspects of the symposium, but omits some details concerning the names of delegates, and facts of only local importance. These may be of interest to Italian readers, but would be of little interest for those outside Italy. However, a fuller and detailed account—in Italian—can be found in a recent issue of Giornale Italiano di Nefrologia [1].
Symposium outline
The symposium was organized by Vittorio Pettinari (1901–1967), Professor of
Topics discussed during the Symposium
Choice between open-fractionated and closed-continuous dialysis
Arterial rather than venous access for blood
Type of dialysis membrane
The use of heparin
Reactions to pyrogenic substances
Acute hypotension
Nature of dialysis
Dialysis fluid
Indications for the use of the artificial kidney
Organization
Historical context
Background to the first symposium on the artificial kidney
Did the symposium have any impact in and outside Italy?
Prominent involvement of surgeons and urologists
Difficulties and pitfalls
Successes
Conclusions