Tenckhoff catheter insertion by nephrologists: open dissection technique.
BACKGROUND
The practice of Tenckhoff catheter insertion by nephrologists remains uncommon in most countries. ♢


METHODS
We report our single-center experience of Tenckhoff catheter insertion by nephrologists using the open dissection surgical technique in a dedicated ward-based procedure room. ♢


RESULTS
Between November 2005 and September 2008, 250 peritoneal catheters were inserted by 6 nephrologists with varying levels of experience. Surgical dissection followed by exposure of the peritoneum under direct vision was performed under local anesthesia. Primary catheter failure, as defined by catheters that failed to function within 1 month after insertion, occurred in 2.8% of cases. Within 1 month of catheter insertion, 20 patients developed infectious complications: 9 (3.6%) peritonitis, and 11 (4.4%) exit-site infections; none of these complications led to catheter removal. Mean technique survival for the catheters was 41.2 months (95% confidence interval: 39.5 months to 42.9 months). Catheter survival rates at 1 and 2 years were 92.7% and 87.2% respectively. ♢


CONCLUSIONS
We reported an encouraging outcome for Tenckhoff catheters inserted by nephrologists in an open surgical manner, with a 2-year catheter survival of 87.2% and a good safety profile.
Chow
Kai Ming
KM
Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Prince of Wales Hospital, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, PR China. Chow_Kai_Ming@alumni.cuhk.net
Szeto
Cheuk Chun
CC
Leung
Chi Bon
CB
Kwan
Bonnie Ching Ha
BC
Pang
Wing Fai
WF
Li
Philip Kam-Tao
PK
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling; D002983:Clinical Competence; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004868:Equipment Failure; D004869:Equipment Safety; D005260:Female; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D007813:Laparotomy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009398:Nephrology / Q000379:methods; D010531:Peritoneal Dialysis, Continuous Ambulatory / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017751:Safety Management; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult