BACKGROUND Refractory congestive heart failure (RCHF), due to its high mortality and hospitalization rates, is a growing health problem. In this study, as an alternative and/or supportive treatment to conventional medical therapies, we have evaluated the clinical value of peritoneal ultrafiltration, performed as a single daily exchange with icodextrin or conventional dextrose-based peritoneal dialysis solutions, in elderly patients with RCHF. METHODS This was an observational study of 6 elderly patients with RCHF and non-terminal chronic kidney disease (CKD). Their mean age was 72.8 ± 4.9 years. Four of the six patients had NYHA class 4 and two had NYHA class 3 RCHF and a medical history of 18.6 ± 14.9 days/year hospitalization on average, due to decompensated congestive heart failure (CHF). Their baseline glomerular filtration rate, as calculated by the MDRD formula was 49.4 ± 14.6 mL/min/1.73 m(2). During hospitalization, patients were initially treated with several sessions of continuous veno-venous hemofiltration and, following the achievement of hemodynamic stabilization, peritoneal ultrafiltration was initiated as the maintenance ultrafiltration modality. Patients were followed up monthly in terms of their clinical status, hospitalization rates, weight changes, serum sodium levels, and renal function. Echocardiographic changes were also evaluated every 3 months. RESULTS All patients tolerated peritoneal ultrafiltration well, their functional status improved by 1 or 2 NYHA classes to reach a mean of NYHA class 2 CHF status. During the follow-up period, with a mean daily ultrafiltration rate of 850 ± 176 mL, no hospitalization for decompensated CHF or acute renal failure was required. The patients' renal function was well preserved, with a mean GFR of 49 ± 14.6 mL/min/1.73 m(2) at baseline and 51.6 ± 22.9 mL/min/1.73 m(2) at the 6th month of the study. Additionally, their mean serum sodium levels increased from 128 ± 5.7 mEq/L to 138 ± 5 mEq/L. Echocardiographic evaluation did not show any significant changes during the observation period. No peritonitis or other non-infectious complication of chronic peritoneal dialysis was seen in any of the patients. CONCLUSIONS Peritoneal ultrafiltration seems to be an efficient and safe procedure and a treatment of choice in elderly patients with RCHF without non-terminal CKD. Peritoneal ultrafiltration improves the quality of life and the effort capacity, and reduces hospitalization rates due to decompensated heart failure and acute renal failure.