Major risk of peritoneal dialysis and the key sign of its complication?

• A. Catheter obstruction; fever only
• B. Peritonitis; cloudy dialysate effluent and abdominal pain
• C. Hernia; abdominal pain
• D. Exit-site infection; redness and discharge

Answer: (B)

Peritoneal dialysis carries a major risk of peritonitis, an infection inside the peritoneal cavity that can occur from contamination during the exchange process. The classic and most telling sign is cloudy dialysate effluent, often accompanied by abdominal pain from peritoneal inflammation. This combination—cloudy drainage plus abdominal discomfort—alerts you to peritonitis and needs prompt evaluation and treatment to prevent sepsis and catheter loss.

Other PD-related issues exist but don’t fit as the major risk with the same clear diagnostic clue. Catheter obstruction affects drainage flow rather than signaling infection. Fever alone isn’t specific to peritonitis, and while hernia or exit-site infection can occur with PD, they present differently (outflow problems or localized exit-site redness/discharge) and do not provide the hallmark sign of cloudy effluent with abdominal pain.