Induction of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis after retroperitoneoscopic nephrectomy

Induction of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) as treatment of end-stage renal disease is difficult for patients requiring nephrectomy with traditional surgery, and usually hemodialysis is selected for these patients. In a 61-year-old woman with end-stage renal failure a left renal tumor was diagnosed by abdominal ultrasonography, enhanced computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. Following an urology consultation, we decided to perform left kidney nephrectomy. We estimated that she had to undergo dialysis permanently after nephrectomy. She desired to be treated by CAPD, however, we decided after allowing for a postoperative period for complete healing of the peritoneum to avoid complications. This is why during the interim period between surgery and induction of CAPD she underwent hemodialysis (HD) in a local outpatient HD center and in our hospital. We selected a retroperitoneoscopic approach for nephrectomy. Pathology evaluation revealed a renal cell carcinoma. 4 months after nephrectomy, CAPD catheter implantation was performed by using laparoscopy and CAPD was started. At the present time, the patient is doing well on CAPD. To our knowledge, there are no clear indications regarding initiation of peritoneal dialysis after nephrectomy. The retroperitoneoscopic approach for nephrectomy allows for initiation of peritoneal dialysis after nephrectomy within a relative short postoperative period.