Abstract for: Dynamic Modeling of Peritoneal Dialysis and Its Implementation in Children with Chronic Kidney Failure

This study has been conducted to shed light on the dynamic interactions between the peritoneal dialysis (PD) treatment and the nutritional intake decisions, with respect to the physical development of children with chronic kidney failure. The interrelationships between the substances such as protein, albumin, calcium, phosphate, sodium and potassium -the major developmental and vital indicators of the child-patients - along with their relationships with the PD treatment have been analysed with the help of System Dynamics methodology. To analyse the dynamics of PD treatment, the time unit of the model has been chosen as a day and the time horizon has been chosen as three years in order to better observe the differences in the growth and development of child-patients. Simulation experiments are carried out to search for effective combinations of PD and nutritional recipes for child-patients. Finally, an interactive simulation game version of the model, which represents the relationship between the diet and the ratios of accumulated toxic or beneficial materials in the body, has been designed. Such simulation game can be used to help doctors, patients and patients’ families in seeking diet and treatment recipes suitable to patients’ monthly needs for a better growth and physical development.