Peritoneal Catheter Tip Location during Non-Complicated Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis

Abstract

In the present study, we evaluated the relationship between 1. the volume and rate of dialysis outflow and subsequent inflow, 2. the patient's impression of the location of the catheter tip and 3. the stability of the catheter tip location. Thirteen patients were studied on 2 random occasions (periods 1 and 2). Inflow (L/min) was significantly faster than outflow (p<0.05). No catheter tips were located in the far upper part of the abdomen. Outflow with the catheter tip located in the middle part of the abdomen was significantly lower than with the tip located in the inferior quadrants (p<0.02). Two patients were able to feel the catheter tip at Period 1, and 4 at Period 2, but only 1 patient was able to state the exact location identical to fluoroscopy. Ninety-two percent of the fluoroscopic evaluations showed catheter tips located in the same anatomical regions in upright as well as supine positions. If vertical “neighbour” anatomical regions were included in the evaluation of the catheter tip migrations, all catheter tips were located at the same or the vertical “neighbour” region in the 2 study periods.