Infected Intra-Abdominal Hematoma Associated with an Indwelling Tenckhoff Catheter

Two months after cessation of continous cycling peritoneal dialysis a pa tient developed an infected intra abdominal hematoma while a Tenck hoff catheter was still present in the abdomen. The hematoma required surgical evacuation. This complication suggests that we should consider early removal of Tenckhot T catheters after successful renal transplanta tion or after switching to hemo dialysis. The chronic peritoneal catheter pioneered by Tenckhoff has made it possible to treat thousands of patients with end stage renal failure by chronic peritoneal dialysis. The complications of Tenckhoff catheters include dialysate leakage, outflow obstruction, pelvic pam, hydrothorax, dacron cuff extrusion, tract infections, combined inflow outflow obstruction, abdominal or in guinal hernias, and hydroceles (1–6). This paper describes a patient who developed abdominal pain and an in fected intra-abdominal hematoma two months after being transferred from continuous cycling peritoneal dialysis (CCPD) to hemodialysis. The appear ance of this complication two months after discontinuing peritoneal dialysis raises the question: When should one remove a Tenckhoff catheter after transfer to hemodialysis or successful renal transplantation?