Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis and pulmonary function.

Ten end-stage renal disease patients treated by continuous peritoneal dialysis were investigated by means of spirography, compliance tests, body plethysmography, and blood oxygen analysis. The ventilatory function was compared with abdomen empty and abdomen filled with 2L of peritoneal dialysis solution. Only a mild ventilatory restriction occurred (vital capacity -3.5%, thoracic gas volume -7.9%) as well as a mild decrease of static absolute compliance (-8.8%) and of dynamic absolute compliance (-6.2%). There was no significant alteration of the specific compliance tests, or of the Tiffeneau test as a parameter of bronchial obstruction, and no reduction of blood oxygen. These results were obtained from probands without bronchopulmonary illnesses. But problems with CAPD and ventilatory function may arise in patients with diseases of the respiratory tract including fluid lung, or in patients with 'space problems' in the abdomen (polycystic renal disease).