Abstract
Objective
To determine the natural history of a surgically placed Tenckhoff catheter in patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD).
Design
Prospective 7–year study analyzing catheter survival of all catheters using the Kaplan-Meier life table methodology.
Setting
Teaching hospital, department of nephrology.
Patients
One hundred and fifteen unselected patients beginning CAPD.
Interventions
Removal of the catheter required for the following complications: exit-site or tunnel infections or relapsing peritonitis, outflow obstruction, pericatheter leak, and development of hernias.
Main Outcome Measures
Period between insertion and removal of the catheter.
Results
The cumulative survival of all catheters after 1,2, and 3 years of CAPD was 87%, 69% and 65%. Catheter survival of the first versus the second catheter after 1 year was significantly longer (p=0.03). The difference was not significant in relation to diabetes, age, and sex. Infectious complications caused 61% (n=19) of all 31 catheter failures, mainly due to tunnel infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus (n=12). “Mechanical” complications accounted for 49% (n=12) of catheter failures. Eight of 12 mechanical complications were outflow failures. Seven patients had to be transferred to hemodialysis.
Conclusions
The straight Tenckhoff catheter is a reliable peritoneal access device for CAPD in an unselected patient population.
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