Laparoscopy: an alternative to surgery in patients treated with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis.

Fifteen laparoscopic abdominal operations were performed in 14 patients treated by continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis for chronic renal failure. Celioscopic exploration of the abdomen and subsequent operation displayed several advantages specific to the method: identification of the etiology of scrotal dialysate outflow was achieved in 4 cases, peritoneal dialysis catheter salvage during laparoscopic cholecystectomy in 1 case, abdominal exploration during occurrence of peritonitis in 3 cases, and catheter dysfunction or abdominal examination before catheter implantation in 7 cases. The laparoscopic procedure allows early resumption of peritoneal dialysis after surgery, hence avoiding the need for transient hemodialysis. Nevertheless, it seemed unable to offer a salvage capability of infected catheters through extensive abdominal washing. Laparoscopy has been reported to decrease postoperative pain and disorders of ventilation, allowing for rapid recovery of social and professional activities following this minimal invasive surgical technique. Laparoscopy is a novel technique which enables precise diagnosis and surgical operations in patients treated by continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis.