Reciprocal influences between ambulatorial peritoneal dialysis and pulmonary function.

The aim of this study was to verify if dialysis solution volumes used in patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) interfere with pulmonary function and if the pulmonary volumes interfere with the lymphatic absorption of the peritoneal cavity. We submitted 10 CAPD patients with a mean age of 48 +/- 18 years and on CAPD for 35 +/- 27 months to the following evaluations: first, measurement of the lymphatic absorption from the peritoneal cavity; second, measurement of the hydrostatic intraperitoneal pressure; and third, expirometry with the peritoneal cavity full of dialysis solution and empty. There were no differences between the expirometry results obtained with the peritoneal cavity full and empty of dialysis solution, and the results were in accordance with the prediction for this population. The values did not correlate with the peritoneal lymphatic absorption of the peritoneal cavity. The cumulative lymphatic absorption of the peritoneal cavity after 4 h dialysis solution permanence was 197 +/- 93 ml, and the hydrostatic intraperitoneal pressure was 13.9 +/- 2.8 column centimeters of water. Neither of these correlated with pulmonary volumes. In conclusion, CAPD did not interfere with the pulmonary function, nor did the pulmonary function influence the lymphatic absorption of the peritoneal cavity of these patients.