Malfunctioning peritoneal dialysis catheter and accompanying surgical pathology repaired by laparoscopic surgery.

OBJECTIVES: To review the laparoscopic salvaging of malfunctioning peritoneal dialysis (PD) catheters, and to present our experience with laparoscopic repair of dysfunctional Tenckhoff catheters and the treatment of accompanying surgical pathologies. DESIGN: Malfunctioning peritoneal catheters were repaired using laparoscopic rescue techniques. Accompanying surgical problems were treated in the same operation. The effectiveness of these approaches was validated by comparison with other remedial techniques described previously. PATIENTS: Malfunctioning PD catheters were salvaged by laparoscopic surgery in 8 patients, and accompanying surgical problems were treated in the same operation in 3 of the 8 patients. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Outcome was measured by the successful return to adequate PD and effective treatment of surgical problems. RESULTS: Eight patient studies show laparoscopic correction of malfunctioning catheters and the treatment of accompanying surgical pathologies with the return to successful PD. CONCLUSION: The salvaging of malfunctioning PD catheters by laparoscopic surgery is an ideal method. This procedure permits simultaneous identification and correction of other surgical problems that could otherwise complicate dialysis therapy.     

慢性肾功能衰竭患者腹腔镜引导下腹膜透析置管术11例临床分析

目的:总结腹腔镜外科技术应用在放置Tenckhoff卷曲腹透管的经验。方法:选择11例慢性肾功能衰竭患者,在腹腔镜引导下将Tenckhoff卷曲腹透管置入腹腔并经皮下隧道引出。结果:11例患者腹透管均放置成功,手术时间约45min,均成功进行了腹膜透析,患者术后一周内出院。结论:腹腔镜引导下放置Tenckhoff卷曲腹透管具有腹透管放置定位准确,无手术切口,优于常规开腹手术,值得推广应用。     

Surgical management of refractory exit-site/tunnel infection of Tenckhoff catheter: technical innovations of partial replantation.

OBJECTIVE: Catheter-related infection has been the major cause of catheter removal for peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. A salvage technique--partial replantation of the infected catheter--was developed in our hospital to rescue catheters with refractory exit-site or tunnel infection. PATIENTS: We performed 26 partial replantations of Tenckhoff catheters for 23 patients with refractory exit-site or tunnel infection and 2 patients with near-cuff perforation of the catheter. Their problems were all resolved successfully without interruption of PD. INTERVENTIONS: We removed the infected portion of the catheter and preserved the still-functioning internal conduit, connecting it to a divided new catheter. All of the patients resumed PD immediately after the advancement of the new catheter through a new subcutaneous tunnel and exit site on the opposite side. RESULTS: No technical complications such as disconnection of the catheter or leakage of dialysate were noted. Repeated partial replantation of the catheter was done for 1 patient with a new refractory exit-site infection. Tunnel infection was not an absolute contraindication for this procedure. About one third (34.6%) of our patients had preoperative tunnel infection. CONCLUSION: Partial replantation of a Tenckhoff catheter is a simple and effective procedure for patients with refractory exit-site/tunnel infection and patients with near-cuff perforation of the catheter. Repeated partial replantation is also feasible for repeat exit-site infections.     

Early start of CAPD with the Seldinger technique.

The ideal method for inserting continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (PD) catheters remains debatable. Minimally invasive techniques are becoming more popular. The routine recommendation for starting PD is 4 - 6 weeks after catheter insertion. We planned a prospective study to evaluate whether this waiting period is necessary. From January 2003 to July 2004, 42 double-cuff Tenckhoff CAPD catheters were inserted into 41 patients. Percutaneous technique was used and PD was started on the sixth day. Only 2 pericatheter leakages (4.8%) were detected. This procedure is comparatively safe, simple, and less costly than surgical and peritoneoscopic placement. The rate of early pericatheter leakage may be lowered with this technique and PD may be started earlier.     

Early initiation of dialysis and late implantation of catheters adversely affect outcomes of patients on chronic peritoneal dialysis

OBJECTIVES: Predialysis nephrology care is thought to affect morbidity and mortality in hemodialysis patients. This study evaluated the impact of different patterns of predialysis care on outcomes of patients undergoing chronic peritoneal dialysis (PD). DESIGN: Retrospective cohort. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: 275 patients enrolled from January 1997 to March 2005 in a medical center in North Taiwan who recently initiated dialysis were classified according to early or late referral to nephrologists (> or =6 or <6 months of dialysis), planned or late implantation of Tenckhoff catheters (absence or presence of preceding emergent hemodialysis), and early or late start of dialysis [glomerular filtration rate (GFR) > or =5 or <5 mL/minute/1.73 m(2)]. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: All-cause mortality and hospitalization. RESULTS: During a median follow-up of 2.5 years, 41 deaths, 38 transfers to hemodialysis, and 26 renal transplantations occurred. Late start of dialysis was associated with a significant survival benefit (log rank, p = 0.012) and, along with planned implantation of catheters, exhibited a reduced risk for all-cause hospitalization (log rank, p = 0.025, 0.013). The predictors of overall mortality included baseline GFR [hazard ratio (HR) 1.18, p = 0.023], age (HR 1.07, p < 0.001), and diabetes (HR 3.64, p = 0.001); whereas the risk factors for all-cause hospitalization included age (HR 1.02, p = 0.012), late implantation of catheters (HR 1.78, p = 0.011), and diabetes (HR 1.92, p = 0.005). The timing of nephrology referral did not affect either death or hospitalization. CONCLUSIONS: Our data do not support earlier initiation of PD, but underscore the importance of planned implantation of catheters before commencement of chronic PD.     

Six-year experience with swan neck catheters.

From the beginning of our continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) program in January 1977 until June 1985, we used Tenckhoff and Toronto Western Hospital catheters. Throughout these years catheter survival probabilities of about 30% at three years persisted unchanged and were similar to survival probabilities reported by the National CAPD Registry special survey for these catheters. The first improvement in catheter results regarding leaks was noted after the adoption of lateral catheter insertion. Malfunction was less using swan neck prototypes from August 1985 to April 1986. The latter catheters were made of 80 degrees arc angle tubing between 8.5 cm spaced cuffs and were inserted in a reversed U-shape tunnel with the incision at the top of the tunnel. The use of these catheters was abandoned because of high cuff extrusion and exit infection rates. The next generation of swan neck catheters, the swan neck Missouri 2 and 3 catheters with straight intraperitoneal segments, improved the results dramatically. These catheters were made of 180 degrees arc angle tubing between 5 or 3 cm spaced cuffs. The estimated survival probability of 61% at three years more than doubled compared to previously used catheters. Recently we modified the intraperitoneal segment of the catheters, replacing the straight segment with a coiled one. These modified catheters, the swan neck Missouri coiled catheters, have been used exclusively since February 1990. In addition to an acceptable survival probability of 88% at one year, there are two major advantages of these catheters, the same as for other coiled catheters: elimination of infusion pain due to a jet effect and pain related to straight catheter tip pressure on the peritoneum experienced by some patients.     

Management of refractory peritonitis to maintain the peritoneum for subsequent dialysis.

Peritonitis and its sequelae remain major clinical problems in treating peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. One of these sequelae is the formation of intra-abdominal adhesions, preventing a patient from returning to peritoneal dialysis after a Tenckhoff catheter is removed for refractory peritonitis. We have recently applied a technique that appears to reduce the incidence of this severe complication. When it is determined that a catheter will be removed for refractory peritonitis, hourly peritoneal dialysis exchanges are performed for 12 hr prior to surgery. Postoperatively, the abdomen is rested for 48 hr, after which a temporary peritoneal dialysis catheter is placed at the bedside and hourly exchanges (with antibiotics) are performed for 2-3 days or until the dialysis fluid white blood cell count improves. Then the temporary catheter is removed and the abdomen is rested until the Tenckhoff catheter is replaced in 10-14 days. We treated 5 consecutive patients with refractory peritonitis (2 Pseudomonas, 1 Proteus, 1 Candida, 1 S. aureus) with this technique. All 5 patients were able to return successfully to peritoneal dialysis. At our institution over the past five years, 9 patients with refractory peritonitis due to the same organisms have had their catheters removed. Only 5 (56%) were able to return to PD. Although preliminary, our technique holds promise for those patients wishing to return to peritoneal dialysis after having a catheter removed for refractory peritonitis.     

Immediate initiation of CAPD following percutaneous catheter placement without break-in procedure.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of a modified method of percutaneous catheter placement without a break-in procedure on the development of catheter-related complications in patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). DESIGN: A prospective, observational clinical study. SETTING: Peritoneal dialysis (PD) units of two university-based hospitals. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study included 51 consecutive patients on CAPD. A straight double-cuffed Tenckhoff catheter with a straight intraperitoneal segment was used, and all catheters were inserted using a modified percutaneous placement method under local anesthesia. The catheter was introduced directly into the deep pelvis through an intramuscular tract, which had been created by tapered dilators. Peritoneal dialysis was initiated immediately after catheter insertion without a break-in procedure. Catheter-related complications were surveyed during the 12 months after initiation of CAPD. RESULTS: Within the first month, only 1 pericatheter leakage (1.9%) was detected. There were no cases of visceral perforation or severe hemorrhage during catheter insertions. Catheter malfunction due to catheter tip migration, exit-site infection, and peritonitis developed in only 1.9%, 3.9%, and 3.9% of patients, respectively. After 1 month following catheter insertion, no further incidences of pericatheter leakage occurred during the follow-up period. All catheters, except one that was reinserted due to tip migration, survived throughout the study period. CONCLUSION: The rates of pericatheter leakage and other catheter-related complications are relatively low in CAPD patients using our percutaneous catheter placement method without a break-in procedure. This procedure is comparatively simple and less invasive than other catheter placement methods, and allows for immediate start of PD after catheter insertion, without a break-in procedure.     

Peritoneal dialysis in childhood acute kidney injury: experience in southwest Nigeria

♦ Background: The choices for renal replacement therapy (RRT) in childhood acute kidney injury (AKI) are limited in low-resource settings. Peritoneal dialysis (PD) appears to be the most practical modality for RRT in young children with AKI in such settings. Data from sub-Saharan Africa on the use of PD in childhood AKI are few.♦ Methods: We performed a retrospective study of children who underwent PD for AKI at a tertiary-care hospital in southwest Nigeria from February 2004 to March 2011 (85 months).♦ Results: The study included 27 children (55.6% female). Mean age was 3.1 ± 2.6 years, with the youngest being 7 days, and the oldest, 9 years. The causes of AKI were intravascular hemolysis (n = 11), septicemia (n = 8), acute glomerulonephritis (n = 3), gastroenteritis (n = 3), and hemolytic uremic syndrome (n = 2). Peritoneal dialysis was performed manually using percutaneous or adapted catheters. Duration of PD ranged from 6 hours to 12 days (mean: 5.0 ± 3.3 days). The main complications were peritonitis (n = 10), pericatheter leakage (n = 9), and catheter outflow obstruction (n = 5). Of the 27 patients, 19 (70%) survived till discharge.♦ Conclusions: In low-resource settings, PD can be successfully performed for the management of childhood AKI. In our hospital, the use of adapted catheters may have contributed to the high complication rates. Peritoneal dialysis should be promoted for the management of childhood AKI in low-resource settings, and access to percutaneous or Tenckhoff catheters, dialysis fluid, and automated PD should be increased.     

The self-locating catheter: clinical experience and follow-up.

BACKGROUND: The self-locating catheter invented by Nicola Di Paolo has been used increasingly in Italy and elsewhere since 1994, with about a thousand patients currently implanted every year. Twelve grams of tungsten inserted into the tip of the conventional Tenckhoff catheter during extrusion does not significantly change its form, but suffices to keep the tip firmly in the Douglas cavity. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to confirm our preliminary results in a large population of peritoneal dialysis patients. SETTING: 16 Italian nephrology departments. RESULTS: In addition to confirming the validity of the new catheter, the present results show that patients with the new catheter have fewer episodes of peritonitis, tunnel infection, cuff extrusion, catheter malfunction, obstruction, and leakage. CONCLUSION: The present multicenter control study confirms preliminary results and demonstrates that complications of peritoneal dialysis, such as cuff extrusion, infection, peritonitis, early leakage, and obstruction, are statistically less frequent in patients with self-locating catheters than in patients with classic Tenckhoff catheters.     

Tenckhoff catheter salvage by closed stiff-wire manipulation without fluoroscopic control.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the results of Tenckhoff catheter salvage by a modified, closed, stiff-wire manipulation technique without the use of general anesthesia or fluoroscopy, and compare this with previously described techniques. DESIGN: Retrospective study in patients treated with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) over a 41-month period. SETTING: Renal unit in an inner city hospital. PATIENTS: Eighteen patients using CAPD who had 22 episodes of outflow failure due to radiologically confirmed malposition of straight two-cuff Tenckhoff catheters. INTERVENTIONS: Closed stiff-wire manipulation of malpositioned Tenckhoff catheter without the use of general anesthesia or fluoroscopy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Initial success rate of manipulation, catheter and technique (CAPD) survival, and procedure-related complications. RESULTS: Catheter manipulation was technically successful in 21 of 22 cases. An additional six episodes of malposition occurred ranging from 2 to 630 days after the primary manipulation (median 7 days). A second manipulation was carried out in four cases that resulted in long-term success in two. Three patients were forced to discontinue CAPD for reasons other than catheter malposition, and the overall success rate at 1 month (patient successfully performing CAPD) was 59.1% (+/-0.1%). No major complications were experienced during the procedure and no episodes of peritonitis occurred. CONCLUSION: The technique described is relatively straightforward, does not require fluoroscopy or general anesthetic, and its success is comparable to previously reported methods of Tenckhoff catheter salvage. We would recommend this technique of catheter salvage in patients with Tenckhoff catheter malposition in whom conservative treatment has failed.     

Exit-site infection in children on peritoneal dialysis: comparison of two types of peritoneal catheters.

OBJECTIVE: To review our experience with two types of peritoneal catheters, the standard Tenckhoff catheter and the swan-neck presternal catheter (SNPC). DESIGN: A retrospective study was undertaken to compare exit-site infection (ESI) rates using two types of peritoneal catheters in children. SETTING: Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland. PATIENTS: During the past 10 years, 60 peritoneal catheters were implanted in 50 children with end-stage renal failure: 46 straight, double-cuffed Tenckhoff in 37 children (mean age 11.8 +/- 4.2 years, range 3.1 - 18.5 years), and 14 presternal in 13 children (mean age 10.6 +/- 5 years, range 0.3-17.7 years). The SNPCs were used in special clinical situations such as recurrent ESI with previous abdominal peritoneal catheters, obesity, presence of ureterocutaneostomies, use of diapers, and young age. For the statistical analysis, only the first catheter placed in each child was chosen: 34 standard Tenckhoff catheters and 9 SNPCs. INTERVENTION: In all children, peritoneal catheters were implanted surgically under general anesthesia by one surgeon; uniform operative technique and perioperative management was used. RESULTS: The mean observation time for 46 standard Tenckhoff catheters was 23.8 +/- 21.1 months, and for 14 SNPCs 25.1 +/- 27.0 months. The ESI rate was 1/17.4 patient-months (0.69 episodes/year) for Tenckhoff catheters and 1/70.2 patient-months (0.17 episodes/year) for SNPCs. The observed differences in ESI rates between the groups reported did not achieve statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: The risk of ESI may be lower with presternal catheters. Confirmation of these findings requires further prospective clinical investigation in large numbers of patients.     

Best Practices Consensus Protocol for Peritoneal Dialysis Catheter Placement by Interventional Radiologists

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) catheters can be placed by interventional radiologists, an approach that might offer scheduling efficiencies, cost-effectiveness, and a minimally invasive procedure. In the United States, changes in the dialysis reimbursement structure by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services are expected to result in the increased use of PD, a less costly dialysis modality that offers patients the opportunity to receive dialysis in the home setting and to have more independence for travel and work schedules, and that preserves vascular access for future dialysis options. Placement of PD catheters by interventional radiologists might therefore be increasingly requested by nephrology practices, given that recent publications have demonstrated the favorable impact on PD practices of an interventional radiology PD placement capability.Earlier reports of interventional radiology PD catheter placement came from single-center practices with smaller reported experiences. The need for a larger consensus document that attempts to establish best demonstrated practices for radiologists is evident. The radiologists submitting this consensus document represent a combined experience of more than 1000 PD catheter placements. The authors submit these consensus-proposed best demonstrated practices for placement of PD catheters by interventional radiologists under ultrasonographic and fluoroscopic guidance. This technique might allow for expeditious placement of permanent PD catheters in late-referred patients with end-stage renal disease, thus facilitating urgent-start PD and avoiding the need for temporary vascular access catheters.     

A prospective randomized study of the effect of a subcutaneously "buried" peritoneal dialysis catheter technique versus standard technique on the incidence of peritonitis and exit-site infection.

OBJECTIVE: A new method for implantation of peritoneal dialysis (PD) catheters was described in 1991. The distal part of the catheter is buried subcutaneously and exteriorized at the start of PD. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of such a subcutaneous rest period on the incidence of peritonitis and exit-site infections (ESI). DESIGN: Sixty patients were randomized to either the new method (B group; n = 30) or to not having the distal part buried subcutaneously (NB group; n = 30). Sixty-five patients (NS group) were not randomized as they had to start PD within 1-2 weeks after implantation. The Moncrief-Popovich catheter was used in the B and NB groups and a standard Tenckhoff catheter was used in the NS group. PATIENTS: Patients scheduled for PD treatment, judged not in need of PD for at least 6 weeks after implantation. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference in the cumulative probability of not developing peritonitis during the first 6, 12, and 24 months. The incidence of the first episode of peritonitis was 1/40, 1/26, and 1/33 treatment-months in the B, NB, and NS groups, respectively. The incidence of ESI was 1/103 and 1/95 treatment-months in the B and NS groups, respectively. The cumulative probability of not developing ESI was similar in both groups. There were no episodes of ESI in the NB group. The difference in the number of ESI between the NB and NS groups was significant (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Subcutaneous burying of the distal catheter segment prior to starting PD does not reduce the risk of contracting peritonitis or exit-site infection.     

Strain differences in the opsonisation of Staphylococcus epidermidis

Ten isolates of coagulase-negative staphylococci, collected from patients receiving treatment with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD), exhibited marked differences in the degree of opsonisation when incubated in 10% and 1% pooled human serum, 10% and 1% heat-treated serum, Hanks' Balanced Salt Solution, and timed peritoneal dialysis (PD) effluent. The addition of exogenous IgG to PD effluent results in a greater increase in opsonisation in those fluids with the weakest inherent opsonic activity, but is ineffective against the majority of isolates in the absence of heat-labile opsonic activity. The results of this in vitro study suggest that host resistance to CAPD peritonitis due to coagulase-negative staphylococci may be determined as much by the characteristics of the contaminating strain, as by the opsonising activity of PD effluent.     

Fluoroscopically guided peritoneal dialysis catheter placement: long-term results from a single center.

OBJECTIVE: Despite percutaneous fluoroscopy ensuring appropriate placement of peritoneal dialysis (PD) catheters, the efficacy of this method is not well known. Therefore, we evaluated our long-term experience with fluoroscopy-assisted placement of PD catheters. Patients and METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 134 PD catheters in 114 PD patients that were treated in the PD center of a university-based hospital. We evaluated complications related to PD catheters, causes for catheter removal, and catheter survival. We used the multivariate Cox proportional hazard model to identify independent factors related to PD catheter survival. RESULTS: Early complications related to insertion included 1 case of pericatheter bleeding; there were no placement failures. Early complications occurred in 8.5% of patients. Most late complications were migration and leakage, which occurred in 10.4% and 9.7% of patients respectively. The most common cause for catheter removal was intractable and recurrent peritonitis. The 12- and 24-month survival rates of the catheters were 80.0% and 74.9%. The most significant prognostic factor of percutaneous fluoroscopy-assisted PD catheter survival was late leakage (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: In addition to the advantages of simplicity, minimal invasiveness, and relative safety, the survival rate of PD catheters placed using the percutaneous fluoroscopy-assisted method was comparable to that of more invasive methods. Percutaneous fluoroscopy-assisted placement of PD catheters should be considered when available, and may be preferred to other placement methods.     

A study of the clinical and biochemical profile of peritoneal dialysis fluid low in glucose degradation products

♦ Objective: Although peritoneal dialysis (PD) is a widely accepted form of renal replacement therapy, concerns remain regarding the bioincompatible nature of standard PD fluid (PDF). Short-term studies of new biocompatible PDFs low in glucose degradation products (GDPs) reveal divergent results with respect to peritoneal integrity.♦ Methods: We studied 125 patients on maintenance PD who were assigned, by simple randomization, to receive either conventional or low-GDP PDF at PD initiation. Parameters of dialysis adequacy and peritoneal transport of small solutes were determined at initiation and after a period of maintenance PD at the time when serum and overnight effluent dialysate were simultaneously collected and assayed for various cytokines, chemokines, adipokines, and cardiac biomarkers. All patients were further followed prospectively for an average of 15 months from the day of serum and effluent collection to determine patient survival and cardiovascular events.♦ Results: Patients treated with conventional or low-GDP PDF were matched for sex, age, duration of dialysis, dialysis adequacy, and incidence of cardiovascular disease or diabetes. After an average of 2.3 years of PD treatment, the weekly total and peritoneal creatinine clearance, and the total and peritoneal Kt/V were comparable in the groups. However, urine output was higher in patients using low-GDP PDF despite there having been no difference between the groups at PD initiation. Patients using low-GDP PDF also experienced a slower rate of decline of residual glomerular filtration and urine output than did patients on conventional PDF. Compared with serum concentrations, effluent concentrations of tumor necrosis factor α, hepatocyte growth factor, macrophage migration inhibitory factor, interleukins 8 and 6, C-reactive protein, and leptin were found to be higher in both groups of patients after long-term PD, suggesting that the peritoneal cavity was the major source of those mediators. Compared with patients on low-GDP PDF, patients on conventional fluid showed elevated leptin and reduced adiponectin levels in serum and effluent. The effluent concentration of interleukin 8 was significantly lower in patients using low-GDP PDF. The survival rate and incidence of cardiovascular complications did not differ between these groups after maintenance PD for an average of 3.6 years.♦ Conclusions: It appears that low-GDP PDF results in an improvement of local peritoneal homeostasis through a reduction of chronic inflammatory status in the peritoneum.     

Icodextrin effluent leads to a greater proliferation than glucose effluent of human mesothelial cells studied ex vivo.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effect of glucose (Glu) and icodextrin (Ico) dialysate on in vitro culture of mesothelial cells (MC) from peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. DESIGN: Prospective, controlled comparative study on the effects of two PD solutions. SETTING: A tertiary-care public university hospital. PATIENTS: Sixteen PD patients regularly using Glu dialysate were asked to collect an 8-hour dwell peritoneal effluent on 2 different days, with an interval shorter than 7 days. In the first collection, 2.27% Glu solution and in the last, 7.5% Ico solution was infused. Human MC were isolated from the nocturnal peritoneal effluent bags and grown ex vivo. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Mesothelial cell proliferative capacity ex vivo. RESULTS: Mesothelial cells were present in all patient dialysates except that of a single patient's Glu dialysate. The number of MC drained was similar with both solutions. After the initial culture reached confluence, MC were identified in 14 and 12 patients receiving Ico and Glu, respectively. However, in 1 patient using Ico and in 2 using Glu, the MC count at this stage was so low that further subculture could not be performed. Cells from Ico-derived solutions exhibited a higher degree of proliferation than cells from Glu-derived solutions. The morphology of MC was also different. Cells from drained effluent were typical in 11 patients using Glu solution in contrast with 14 patients using Ico. At confluence, the percentages of typical appearance were 50% and 92.9% (p < 0.05) in Glu and Ico respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Mesothelial cells taken from icodextrin effluent show a greater proliferation ex vivo than those taken from glucose effluent.