Pleuro-peritoneal or pericardio-peritoneal leak in children on chronic peritoneal dialysis-A survey from the European Paediatric Dialysis Working Group

Background Pleural or pericardial effusions secondary to pleuro-peritoneal fistula (PPF) and pericardio-peritoneal fistula (PcPF) are rare but serious complications of peritoneal dialysis (PD). Methods We conducted a 10-year survey across all participating centres in the European Paediatric Dialysis Working Group to review the incidence, diagnostic techniques, therapeutic options and outcome of children on chronic PD with PPF and/or PcPF. Results Of 1506 children on PD there were ten cases (8 of PPF, 1 each of PcPF and PPF + PcPF), with a prevalence of 0.66 %. The median age at presentation was 1.5 [inter-quartile range (IQR) 0.4-2.4] years, and nine children were Conclusion In conclusion, PPF and PcPF are rare in children on chronic PD, but are associated with significant morbidity, requiring a change of dialysis modality in all cases. Risk factors for PPF development include age of
Author(s): Stephanie Dufek[sup.1] , Tuula Holtta[sup.2] , Michel Fischbach[sup.3] , Gema Ariceta[sup.4] , Augustina Jankauskiene[sup.5] , Rimante Cerkauskiene[sup.5] , Claus Peter Schmitt[sup.6] , Betti Schaefer[sup.6] , Christoph Aufricht[sup.7] , Elizabeth [...]