A chronic renal hemodialysis patient with intractable ascites effectively reduced by Le Veen shunt

We report a chronic hemodialysis patient treated with Le Veen shunt implant due to intractable ascites. A 53-year-old male undergoing hemodialysis for chronic glomerulonephritis showed abdominal distension and dyspnea in January 1997. Abdominal CT revealed considerable ascites, but liver cirrhosis was not detected. Initially, diuretic was not effective and intravenous reinjection of ascitic fluid after filtration was performed seven times. However, ascites increased gradually, so we implanted Le Veen's peritoneo-venous shunt in July 1997. Postoperatively, the patient demonstrated a high grade fever for several weeks. However, ascites decreased and the general condition improved. Le Veen shunt is a useful surgical treatment for intractable ascites even in patients on maintenance hemodialysis.