Failed peritoneal dialysis in a dehydrated nephrotic child, in acute renal failure: a case report

A case of failed peritoneal dialysis in a 5-year-old male nephrotic who developed acute renal failure following severe P. falciparum malaria infection is presented. Peritoneal dialysis (PD) failure was sequel to undetected severe dehydration which occurred during the diuretic phase of the acute renal failure. Pre-dialysis plasma potassium, bicabonate, urea and creatinine concentrations were 6.0mmol/L, 13mmol/L, 28mmol/L and 900mmol/L respectively, after about 22 hours of PD, the plasma K+, HCO-3 Ur and Cr were 5.7mmol/L, 15mmol/L, 32mmol/L and 1,090mml/L respectively. The peritoneal dialysate Ur concentration (3.5mmol and peritoneal Ur clearance (1.85ml/min/1.73m2) were grossly inadequate. There was also, intradialysis hyperglycaemia (12mmol/L owing to massive absorption of peritoneal dialysate solution which contains high concentration of glucose. Hyperglycaemia was corrected with 0.25 units/kg/dose of soluble insulin intravenously, he had two doses. Owing to similarity of clinical and biochemical features of dehydration and ARF, all efforts must be made to exclude dehydration before embarking on PD in patients with renal failure. Failure to exclude dehydration, led to PD failure in this patient.