A 36-year-old man with kidney disease took a Jacuzzi after going swimming (the latter recommended by his doctor to help reduce blood pressure). 18 hours later the man underwent routine kidney dialysis, but one hour after that reported severe abdominal pain. After referral from his dialysis unit to the accident and emergency department of a nearby hospital, a computed tomography (CT) scan revealed internal bleeding originating from his left kidney.
Dr Lutz Liefeldt, the principal author of the letter, comments: "We infer that the patient's kidney was mechanically injured by "whirlpooling", resulting in subacute and subclinical bleeding that became symptomatic only when intensified by anticoagulation during haemodialysis. Therefore we conclude that, under certain conditions such as hypertension or anticoagulation, the use of whirlpools is associated with potential health risks."
Contact: Dr Lutz Liefeldt, Charité, Humboldt-Universität Berlin, Medizinische Klinik, Nephrologie, 10117 Berlin, Germany;
T) 49-30-450 514-002;
F) 49-30-450-514-902;
E) lutz.liefeldt@charite.de
The Lancet