Splenic Abscess and Peritonitis in a Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis (CAPD) Patient

A 26-year-old female was on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) because of diabetic endstage renal failure. She developed an acute peritonitis that relapsed repeatedly despite approp riate antibiotic treatment. Investigations showed the presence of a splenic abscess, and splenectomy and peritoneal cannula removal were required. The patient died of myocardial infarction two weeks postoperatively. This is the first recorded case of peritonitis secondary to splenic abscess in a CAPD patient. Autopsy findings suggest that the abscess developed from infection of a splenic infarct. KEY WORDS: Peritonitis; splenic abscess. p eritonitis in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients is occasionally secondary to intra-abdominal pathology. Most common underlying causes include perforation of the large bowel or appendix, diverticulitis, and gangrenous cholecystitis (1)