OBJECTIVE: The goal of this paper was to review the viability of peritoneal dialysis (PD) in patients with spina bifida and/or ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS). SETTING: Pediatric dialysis unit in a tertiary-care hospital. DATA SOURCE: The course and outcome in 9 children, 5 from the authors' experience and 4 from reported experience, are analyzed. RESULTS: One patient died of a cause unrelated to PD or VPS, 2 were transferred to hemodialysis because of recurrent peritonitis, 1 discontinued PD transiently, 2 were transplanted, and 3 continue on PD. Six of these 9 children had a functioning VPS, and none presented evidence of ventriculitis or VPS dysfunction, even though 4 had PD-related peritonitis. One child presented with a massive PD-related hydrothorax. CONCLUSIONS: (1) Having a VPS is not an absolute contraindication to PD; the available data support the viability of PD in patients with spina bifida and/or a VPS. (2) If cerebrospinal fluid diversion is needed simultaneously or after starting PD, an extraperitoneal site should be a better choice than VPS. This should avoid the risk of intra- and postoperative infection in the PD catheter secondary to surgical intervention for VPS insertion. (3) Loss of peritoneal function is a potential late risk related to cerebrospinal fluid and PD. (4) Spina bifida patients on PD present specific diagnostic challenges due to overlapping symptoms (e.g., vomiting, abdominal tenderness, fever) secondary to PD- or VPS-related complications (e.g., peritonitis, visceral injury by devices) or primary disease (e.g., neurogenic bladder, pyelonephritis), with inherent risks of delaying adequate treatment. Cloudy peritoneal effluent is an early indication of peritonitis, although it is not specific. (5) Early evaluation by a pediatric surgeon and a neurosurgeon is required for effective management of complications and selection of more efficient individualized therapeutic alternatives. Prompt treatment of complications is crucial. A registry of children with spina bifida on PD and the accumulation of a large population followed up for longer periods will provide an objective assessment of their problems and management.

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