Symptomatic Peritoneal Calcification in a Child: Treatment with Tidal Peritoneal Dialysis

Objective To evaluate the ability of tidal peritoneal dialysis to decrease the pain and frequency of hemoperitoneum associated with peritoneal calcification. Design Prospective case evaluation. Setting The Home Peritoneal Dialysis Unit, Children's Mercy Hospital. Patient Seven-year-old male with diffuse peritoneal calcifications, daily abdominal pain, and recurrent hemoperitoneum. Intervention Tidal peritoneal dialysis was conducted with an initial fill volume of 45 mL/kg and a tidal inflow volume of 23 mL/kg. The patient also maintained a daytime pass volume of 45 mL/kg. Duration of treatment was 7 months. Results The patient's abdominal pain resolved 2 days after initiating tidal peritoneal dialysis. No episodes of hemoperitoneum or abdominal pain have occurred for 7 months. Conclusion Tidal peritoneal dialysis is a unique approach to the achievement of symptomatic relief in the patient with peritoneal calcification.