← Background Patients treated with peritoneal dialysis (PD) have increased intra-abdominal pressure and a high prevalence of abdominal wall complications. ← Objective The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of hernias and peritoneal leaks in our PD patients and to investigate their potential risk factors. ← Patients We studied 142 unselected patients treated with PD during the past 5 years, including those that were already on PD and those that started PD during this period. Mean age was 54 years and mean follow-up on PD was 39 months. 72 patients had been treated with only continuous ambulatory PD (CAPD), 8 with automated PD (APD), and 62 with both modalities. ← Results 53 patients (37%) developed hernia and/or leak. A total of 39 hernias and 63 leaks were registered. The overall rates were 0.08 hernias/patient/year and 0.13 leaks/patient/year, 17 patients had both abdominal complications. Hernia was most frequently located in the umbilical region, and the most frequent site of leakage was the pericatheter area. Both complications appeared more frequently during the CAPD period (87% of hernias, 81% of leaks). The rate of hernias was higher in patients treated only with CAPD than in those that used only cyclers [0.08 vs 0.01 hernias/patient/year, not significant (NS)]. No patient treated only with APD had peritoneal leak; 25% (18/72) of patients treated with CAPD developed this complication ( p = 0.18, NS). Dialysate exchange volumes ranged from 2000 to 2800 mL. 25 (66%) patients required surgical repair of the hernia, with recurrence in 7 patients (28%). 27 (84%) patients with leaks were initially treated with transitory temporary transfer to hemodialysis, low volume APD, or intermittent PD for 4 weeks. The leak recurred in half of the cases and surgical repair was necessary in 12 cases. The development of hernia and/or leak did not correlate with gender, diabetes, duration of follow-up, type of PD, history of abdominal surgery, or with the largest peritoneal exchange volume used. Polycystic kidney disease was the only factor associated with higher rate of hernias ( p = 0.005), whereas increased age ( p = 0.04) and higher body mass index ( p = 0.03) were significantly associated with the appearance of leaks. ← Conclusion Abdominal hernias and peritoneal leaks are very frequent in the PD population. Advanced age, polycystic kidney disease, and high body mass index are independent risk factors for their development. Automated PD with low daytime fill volume should be considered in all patients at risk for hernias and/or leaks.

The treatment of cirrhotic patients with ascites and end-stage renal disease is complex, due mainly to decreased effective arterial volume and hemodynamic instability. Peritoneal dialysis as a continuous therapy represents an alternative to hemodialysis-related intolerance. We report on our experience and that of others with cirrhotic patients with ascites treated by peritoneal dialysis. Hemodynamic tolerance was excellent in all patients and solute and water peritoneal transport increased to above the normal range in almost all cases. Morbidity and mortality were related principally to liver disease and other comorbidities. Peritoneal protein losses, initially high, decreased over time, maintaining serum albumin within the low normal range. The incidence of peritonitis was similar or slightly higher than usual in these patients, with peculiar etiology. The experiences with peritoneal dialysis suggest consideration of this treatment as the first choice for cirrhotic patients with ascites and that need to start dialysis.

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The peritoneal transport parameters tended toward normalization during the first year on PD, mainly with a decrease of small solute transport and an increase of ultrafiltration capacity. This evolution is independent of age, gender, diabetes and higher exposure to glucose in PD solutions. Peritonitis was the only independent factor that affected peritoneal function during the first year on peritoneal dialysis.

Background Human peritoneal function on commencing peritoneal dialysis (PD) is not yet adequately understood. The objective of this study was to determine peritoneal functional patterns on commencing PD. Methods 367 end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients on PD for the first time were studied between their initial second to sixth weeks on PD. Urea and creatinine mass transfer area coefficients (MTAC) and standardized ultrafiltration (UF) capacity were determined. Results Mean parametric values were MTAC urea 22.9 ± 7.04 mL/min, MTAC creatinine 10.31 ± 4.68 mL/min, and UF 896 ± 344 mL. Gender, patient size, and diabetes or kidney disease did not affect these parameters. The relationship between values of MTAC creatinine and UF reached statistical significance, although with a low value for Pearson's coefficient ( r=–0.30, p = 0.001). Age showed a significant inverse linear correlation with UF capacity ( r = –0.15, p = 0.003) and MTAC urea ( r = –0.11, p < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that UF below 400 mL was independently related to a high MTAC creatinine and older age. Diabetes was least frequent in patients with the lowest UF. However, in the analysis of MTAC creatinine quintiles, UF values did not follow the expected inverse pattern. The lack of differences in UF between the second and third to fourth MTAC creatinine quintiles is remarkable; MTAC creatinine ranged from 6.71 to 13.54. Conclusions The functional characteristics of human peritoneum varied markedly and there was a less intense than expected relationship between solute and water transports. This mild inverse relationship is intriguing and suggestive of the necessity of redefining some basic concepts. Age was associated with a lower peritoneal UF capacity, in part independently of small solute transport.

Neither the high transport nor the inherent UFF status has any influence on patient and technique survival. The inherent high small solute transport status is associated with hypoalbuminaemia and a greater comorbidity index. The Charlson index, age and lower RRF are the only independent predictors of mortality. Technique dropout is not predicted by any of the variables studied at the baseline.

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