Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis complicating with abdominal hernias in children.

From May 1991 through December 1995, 10 uremic children ranging in age from 3.6 years old to 14.4 years old underwent insertion of 13 peritoneal dialysis catheters for continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). Eight abdominal hernias developed, associated with five catheters (38.5%) in four of the patients. Three hernias were inguinal, three were umbilical, one was epigastric, and one occurred at the catheter insertion site. Six hernias, including one umbilical hernia developing incarceration, were repaired. After operations because of recurrent hernias, two patients were switched from standard CAPD to night intermittent PD (NIPD) using low volumes of dialysate. Male sex and age younger than six years were possible associated risk factors (P = 0.19). In conclusion, hernia in young children undergoing CAPD is not unusual, and early surgical repair is advisable to avoid complications.