A "sweet" hydrothorax in a child on peritoneal dialysis

Abstract

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is an established, effective long term renal replacement treatment modality for children with end stage renal disease (ESRD). A rarely reported complication of PD in children is the development of hydrothorax1. We report the case of an 8-year-old boy that developed a right-sided pleural effusion during automated PD (APD), in order to raise awareness amongst paediatricians; we also review the diversity of clinical presentation and the available diagnostic tools, discuss theories regarding aetiology and highlight the available treatment options. Hippokratia 2011; 15 (4): 358-360