| [ Summary ] |
For female CAPD patients the specific complications are hemoperitoneum during menstruation or ovulation, ascending peritonitis from the vagina or the uterus, and pregnancy. Hemoperitoneum during menstruation or ovulation is not an infrequent complication in women of reproductive age, and it is considered benign. In sever bleeding cases, flushes with peritoneal dialysis fluid or heparin in the dialysate have been used to prevent catheter clotting. Most cases of ascending peritonitis from the vagina or the uterus have occurred as complications of the gynecological operations, peritoneovaginal leakage or, infections related to implanted intrauterine devices (IUD) producing ascending infections through the fallopian tubes into the peritoneum. To prevent ascending infections, it is important to diagnose the presence of the peritoneovaginal leakage or avoid the use of IUDs. Although PD therapy has several advantages for pregnancy, such as the continuous nature of the therapy, it also has some disadvantages. Careful management is needed for successful pregnancies in CAPD patients. |