Acute abdominal events and their impact on morbidity and mortality in a CAPD program

A retrospective analysis was done to explore the impact of acute abdominal events other than peritonitis, on morbidity and mortality in a CAPD program over a span of 6 years. Subtlety of clinical manifestations and low yield from investigational attempts (except microbiologic) made decision-making as to whether or not to continue CAPD, hard. An increased prevalence of septicemic shock with its inevitable high risk of morbidity and mortality was striking. Timely termination of CAPD and change over to hemodialysis may help to prevent dissemination of infection in these patients. Among the vascular causes of death in CAPD patients, bowel infarction seemed to be the most common.