Pancreatitis Is a Silent Killer in Peritoneal Dialysis With Difficult Diagnostic Approach

Until 2018, 236 cases of acute pancreatitis have been reported in patients who underwent peritoneal dialysis. Here, we presented a patient with double renal transplantation with chronic renal failure, under renal replacement therapy by peritoneal dialysis, who developed acute pancreatitis with abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, leukocytosis with neutrophil left shift which is complicated by pancreatic pseudocyst, candida peritonitis, fungal sepsis, overlapping of Acinetobacter baumannii sepsis, and pneumonitis. After the percutaneous cystogastrostomy drainage of pancreatic pseudocyst, changes from peritoneal dialysis to hemodialysis, various thoracentesis, and polyantibiotics therapy, the resolution of the sepsis state was seen. The particular aspect of our case is the various comorbidity risks, severe pancreatitis associated with candida and A baumannii sepsis, and treatment strategy that lead to heal this kind of the high mortality rate condition.

Acute pancreatitis in peritoneal dialysis: a case report with literature review

Abdominal pain with a discoloured dialysate in a patient on peritoneal dialysis (PD) is usually attributed to infective peritonitis. Although acute pancreatitis (AP) is not usually a complication of end-stage renal disease, some studies suggest an increased risk especially in patients on PD. We report a case of idiopathic AP in a 41-year-old female on PD who presented with abdominal pain, fever, vomiting and a clear dark dialysate. Initial diagnosis of PD-associated infective peritonitis was made but dialysate cultures proved negative. Serum amylase showed a mild rise and computed tomography revealed necrotising pancreatitis. No common risk factors for AP were identified and she was successfully treated with conservative therapy. A literature review was carried out using a PubMed search with the words 'acute pancreatitis and peritoneal dialysis'. The literature search found a total of 94 cases of AP in the setting of PD. In more than a quarter, no cause for AP was found. Serum amylase was normal in 12.8% of episodes. Complications developed in 25 cases, and 28 patients died from the condition. Therefore, AP can be a rare, but serious complication of PD with a high mortality and must be considered in the differential diagnosis of abdominal pain in a PD patient.