Chronic peritoneal dialysis catheters: procedures for placement, maintenance, and removal

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is an integral part of the practice of most nephrologists, and a life-sustaining therapy for many of our patients. As in hemodialysis, the success of PD is often determined by the success of the access device. For the nephrologist placing and removing PD catheters, or for the nephrologist advising surgeons in this role, this article provides a review of the types of PD catheters and differences in function and complications, methods of insertion of PD catheters and relation to catheter outcomes, techniques for burying the external portion of the PD catheter and benefits of this technique, and techniques for removing PD catheters.