A case of hydrothorax in peritoneal dialysis

Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) is an effective renal replacement therapy for the end stage renal disease. The hydrothorax secondary to leakage of dialysate via pleuroperitoneal communication is a rare complication of CAPD. A variety of symptoms are complained. The regular chest X-ray and pleural fluid examination are needed to find out this complication with vague symptoms. Although our understanding of its mechanisms is incomplete, it is apparent that the key to successful therapy is obliteration of a transdiaphragmatic route of dialysate leakage (pleuroperitoneal communication). Several treatments of CAPD-induced hydrothorax have included pleurodesis with tetracycline, talc, fibrin, or autologous blood and surgical treatment. We have recently managed with a patient CAPD-induced massive hydrothorax with decreased amount of effluent dialysate volumes using talc pleurodesis. This patient was successfully returned to CAPD.