Hydrothorax in periteonal dialysis patients

In patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis, hydrothorax is defined as the presence of peritoneal dialysate fluid in the pleural cavity. This PD complication has an incidence of <5%>high glucose concentration and a variable cell count.

Patients diagnosed with a hydrothorax should be advised to temporarily cease PD. If necessary, patients can be transiently converted to hemodialysis while waiting for resolution of the hydrothorax. A trial of re-introducing low pressure PD (e.g. small volume) can then be attempted. If this strategy fails, switching to hemodialysis is a viable option. Video-assisted talc pleurodesis or operative repair are other alternatives available to patients who wish to continue PD.