title: The Tenckhoff catheter for peritoneal dialysis--an appraisal.
abstract: We prospectively evaluated early (within 40 days) catheter complications in all patients receiving a dialysis catheter between 1/8/80 and 1/8/81. 50% of patients achieved a functioning catheter at the first insertion and 24% required replacement of the catheter because of poor dialysate flow. Leaking from the catheter exit site occurred in 20%, infection at the exit site in 9% and peritonitis in 19% of patients. In patients who maintain a catheter over 40 days and undergo treatment by long-term peritoneal dialysis median catheter survival was 400 days with delayed cytheter failure primarily due to failure to resolve a clinical episode of peritonitis. Although the Tenckhoff catheter is readily inserted frequent complications occur.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002404:Catheterization / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010530:Peritoneal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D010538:Peritonitis / Q000209:etiology; D011446:Prospective Studies