Laparoscopic placement of peritoneal dialysis catheters: 7 years experience

Since 1994 we have placed all peritoneal dialysis (Tenckhoff) catheters at our hospital laparoscopically using a technique that incorporates suture fixation into the pelvis. The purpose of this study was to determine the long-term outcome of this approach.

Perioperative and follow-up data for all patients undergoing placement of a peritoneal dialysis catheter at the Royal Adelaide Hospital were collected prospectively and managed on unit specific and hospital wide computerized databases. A total of 148 procedures were carried out in 123 patients from March 1994 to November 2001. Follow-up ranged from 3 to 68 months (median, 42 months). All procedures were undertaken or supervised by one surgeon, and catheters were routinely sutured into the pelvis at laparoscopy.

There was no perioperative mortality in this series, and only one catheter could not be placed laparoscopically. This was in a patient with extensive intra-abdominal adhesions. Mean operative time was 27 min (range, 10-100 min), and mean postoperative stay was 2.8 days (range, 1-12 days). Seven (5%) patients experienced peri/postoperative haemorrhage, and four of these underwent surgical re-exploration. Twenty-five (17%) catheters are still used for dialysis. Thirty-four (23%) catheters were removed when the recipient received a subsequent renal transplant, and 42 (28%) patients died during follow-up. Forty-six (31%) patients required catheter revision or removal because of technical problems; 26 (18%) recurrent peritonitis or exit site infection; and 20 (14%) catheter blockage. Twenty-eight reinsertion procedures were carried out in 25 patients. Ten (7%) patients developed port site hernias at late follow-up, and required hernioplasty. Catheter migration leading to malfunction (poor drainage) occurred in eight (5%) patients only.

Laparoscopic placement of peritoneal dialysis catheters is a safe and effective procedure. The majority of patients will dialyse successfully using this technique. Suturing the catheter tip into the pelvis is associated with a low rate of catheter migration.