Bladder perforation in a peritoneal dialysis patient

The dysfunction of the catheter in peritoneal dialysis (PD) is a frequent complication. However, perforation of organs are rare, particularly that of the urinary bladder. This requires an early diagnosis and prompt treatment of patients. We report here the case of a 38-year-old woman having end-stage renal disease due to autosomal-dominant polycystic kidney disease treated by PD since November 2000. Three years later, she was treated for Staphylococcal peritonitis. Four months later, she presented with a severe urge to urinate at the time of the fluid exchanges. The biochemical analysis of the fluid from the bladder showed that it was dialysis fluid. Injection of contrast through the catheter demonstrated the presence of a fistula between the bladder and the peritoneal cavity. She underwent cystoscopic closure of the fistulous tract and the PD catheter was removed. Subsequently, the patient was treated by hemodialysis. One month later, a second catheter was implanted surgically after confirming the closure of the fistula. Ten days later, she presented with pain at the catheter site and along the tunnel, which was found to be swollen along its track. The injection of contrast produced swelling of the subcutaneous tunnel but without extravasation of the dye. PD was withdrawn and the patient was put back on hemodialysis. Bladder fistula is a rare complication in PD and diagnosis should be suspected when patient complains of an urge to pass urine during the exchanges, which can be confirmed by contrast study showing presence of dye in the bladder. PD may be possible after the closure of the fistula, but recurrence may occur.

Short- and long-term outcomes of living donors in Tunisia: a retrospective study

Despite initiatives to increase cadaveric donation, there is still a shortfall in donor organs. Kidneys from living donors now makes a significant contribution to increasing the number of organs available for transplantation in Tunisia. We performed a retrospective study of 405 kidney transplantations, including 321 (79.3%) from living donors performed from June 1986 to December 2007. We obtained information on only 162 (50.4%), namely, 64 men (39.5%) and 98 women (60.5%), whose mean age at the time of donation was 42.3 ± 12.2 years. Twelve (8.22%) perioperative complications occurred: wound infections (n = 4), pneumothorax (n = 4), phlebitis (n = 1), hematomas (n = 2), and urinary infection (n = 1). The mean follow-up period was 117.4 ± 74.4 months. Hypertension occurred in 42 donors (25.9%) with mean values of 134 ± 20 for systolic and 79 ± 10 for diastolic blood pressure. Twelve donors (7.4%) developed proteinuria (mean proteinuria, 0.08 ± 1.25 g/d). Renal insufficiency was found in 28 donors (19.44%), 2 of whom developed chronic renal failure requiring dialysis at intervals of 36 and 84 months. In both cases, we diagnosed a familial form of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. Two donors (1.2%) died within 10 years after kidney donation due to senility. The relatively favorable outcomes suggest that living-donor kidney transplantation is an acceptable approach, in view of the superior results it yields in recipients. However, efforts to increase the number of cadaveric donors in Tunisia should be made. It is also important to develop a registry of long-term kidney function after kidney donation.