title: The permanent Tenckhoff catheter for chronic peritoneal dialysis.
abstract: Over a 3 1/2-year period the permanent Tenckhoff catheter was used in 66 patients (32 men and 34 women) maintained on chronic peritoneal dialysis for periods from 2 1/2 to 36 1/2 months; 57 patients had dialysis in hospital for 20 to 24 hours twice a week and the other 9 had dialysis at home for 10 to 12 hours four times a week. While the Tenckhoff catheter was in place 14 patients received a renal transplant; for 13 who required peritoneal dialysis during the post-transplant phase the Tenckhoff catheter was used. In nine patients abdominal surgery did not interfere with the continuation of peritoneal dialysis via the Tenckhoff catheter. From a total of 5067 dialyses 40 positive cultures were reported (0.8%). Peritonitis was clinically evident on only 14 occasions (0.28%). Permanent catheter obstruction developed in 16 patients, in 11 of whom it was related to peritonitis. With the introduction of the permanent Tenckhoff catheter long-term peritoneal dialysis has become a simple, safe and painless procedure, suitable for virtually all patients who require maintenance dialysis.
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen / Q000601:surgery; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000382:microbiology; D002404:Catheterization / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006699:Home Care Services; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010530:Peritoneal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D010538:Peritonitis / Q000209:etiology; D013210:Staphylococcus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous