Chylous Peritonitis: An Infrequent Complication of Peritoneal Dialysis

Abstract

A 13-year-old girl, who had been on chronic peritoneal dialysis for 31/2 years, developed chylous peritonitis after a minor abdominal trauma. Conservative treatment with a lowfat, high-caloric diet supplemented with medium-chain triglycerides, was without success. When peritoneal dialysis was replaced by hemodialysis, the chylous peritonitis gradually resolved as judged from the echographic findings. When chylous peritonitis occurs in the course of chronic peritoneal dialysis and persists after a trial with a dietary regimen, peritoneal dialysis should be temporarily replaced by hemodialysis. A conservative dietary treatment combined with parenteral hyperalimentation may be given at the same time. It is not yet clear whether surgical intervention can thus be avoided in all cases.