Effect of Peritoneal Dialysis Fluid on Ventilatory Function

Lung function was measured in eight patients undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis using two litres of dialysate fluid and in one patient using three litres of fluid. With the patient sitting, lung volumes were measured by body plethysmographic and helium dilution techniques and a forced vital capacity, before and after removal of dialysate fluid from the abdominal cavity. The patients selected were free of lung disease and were at stable dry weight. No significant difference was found in maximum expiratory flow rates or lung volumes measured by the body plethysmography after removal of the fluid. However, the helium dilution technique showed changes in lung volumes; here the functional residual capacity was increased by 590 ml (SE 209 ml, p < 0.05) in the eight patients using two litres of fluid. Others have reported similar findings in patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis. The findings suggest that the introduction of fluid into the peritoneal cavity has no detrimental effect on diaphragmatic configuration and function.