Elimination of Abdominal Pain Associated with Automated Peritoneal Dialysis

Thirteen patients have been treated with automated peritoneal dialysis at our center. Of these, three have experienced discomfort with dialysate inflow. They described rectal pain with an intense downward urge to defecate. In two, the sensation was most intense at the onset of the inflow cycle and lessened with each treatment. In both, the sensation disappeared entirely within four weeks. The third patient experienced the same downward urge, but his was associated with severe rectal pain. The intensity of the pain increased as the inflow progressed and worsened with each successive cycle. The pain was so intense that it precluded treatment with automated peritoneal dialysis equipment. The patient was therefore maintained on conventional peritoneal dialysis which was pain-free while we investigated possible causes for his symptoms.