Hemoperitoneum in a peritoneal dialysis patient from a retroperitoneal source

Area of Science:

• Nephrology
• Cardiology
• Gastroenterology

Background:

• Hemoperitoneum is an uncommon complication in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis.
• Gynecologic causes are more frequent in women, but intraperitoneal and retroperitoneal sources also exist.

Observation:

• A peritoneal dialysis patient developed hemoperitoneum days after cardiac catheterization.
• The cardiac catheterization procedure resulted in a significant retroperitoneal hematoma.

Findings:

• The retroperitoneal hematoma from cardiac catheterization was the source of hemoperitoneum.
• This case illustrates a rare retroperitoneal origin of hemoperitoneum in peritoneal dialysis patients.

Implications:

• Clinicians should consider retroperitoneal sources, such as post-procedural hematomas, when evaluating hemoperitoneum in peritoneal dialysis patients.
• Understanding diverse etiologies of hemoperitoneum is crucial for timely diagnosis and management in this vulnerable population.