Percutaneous radiologic placement of peritoneal dialysis catheters: long-term results

To evaluate the efficacy of percutaneous radiologic placement of peritoneal dialysis (PD) catheters.

Nineteen patients with end-stage renal disease were referred for percutaneous radiologic placement of a commercially available PD catheter. The patient group consisted of 11 men and eight women with a mean age of 58 years (range, 38-85 y). All procedures were performed on an outpatient basis with use of conscious sedation. Patients were followed up to determine technical success, complication rate, catheter survival (continuous patency without infection or mechanical dysfunction), and long-term outcome.

The technical success rate for catheter placement was 95% (18 of 19). Complications included one (5%) failed attempt at catheter placement and one (5%) case of postplacement peritonitis. Mean and median catheter survival durations were 320 and 289 days, respectively (range, 33-823 d). A Kaplan-Meier survival analysis yielded 6-, 12-, and 24-month probabilities of catheter survival of 0.89 +/- 0.15, 0.81 +/- 0.20, and 0.81 +/- 0.20, respectively. Long-term outcomes included: continued PD, n = 9 (47%); death, n = 6 (32%; all related to comorbid disease); successful renal transplant, n = 2 (10.5%); and continued or resumed hemodialysis, n = 2 (10.5%).

Percutaneous radiologic placement of PD catheters has a high technical success rate, low complication rate, and can be performed on an outpatient basis. Catheter survival is comparable to that achieved with surgical and percutaneous endoscopic methods of catheter placement.