Our nine-year experience with the self-locating catheter: comparison of malfunction rate with other Tenckhoff catheter variants.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate catheter-related complications among self-locating and other variants of Tenckhoff catheters.


METHODS
We studied all self-locating catheters implanted in our hospitals from May/97 to Dec/05. We extended the follow-up to Jun/05. We collected demographic data, causes of catheter withdrawal and dropping of PD. We studied data about technique and catheter related complications.


RESULTS
We included 328 catheters in 285 patients. There were 258 self-locating, 55 straight and 15 curled. There was a higher rate of catheter withdrawal due to malfunction in patients with straight or pig-tail catheters than in self-locating ones (log-rank, p < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
In our patients, self-locating catheters have a lower malfunction rate than other variants of Tenckhoff catheters.
Lanuza
M
M
Nephrology Department, Hospital Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca, Murcia, Spain.
Minguela
J I
JI
Rodado
R
R
Muriel
J
J
Ruiz-de-Gauna
R
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling / Q000009:adverse effects*; D020878:Device Removal; D004867:Equipment Design; D004868:Equipment Failure; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010530:Peritoneal Dialysis / Q000295:instrumentation*