Intra-abdominal location of peritoneal catheters during CAPD

Thirteen patients were studied on two random occasions in order to evaluate the relationship between 1) volume and rate of dialysis outflow and the subsequent inflow, 2) patient's impression of the location of the catheter tip, and 3) stability of the catheter tip location. Outflow with the catheter tip located in the middle part of the abdomen was significantly lower than with the tip located in the inferior quadrants (p less than 0.02). No catheter tips were located in the far upper regions of the abdomen. Only one patient was able to state the exact location identical to fluoroscopy. 92% of the fluoroscopic evaluations showed that catheter tips were located in the same anatomical region in the upright as well as in the supine position. If vertical "neighbour" anatomical regions were included in the evaluation of the catheter tip migrations, all catheter tips were located in the same or the vertical "neighbour" region at the two study periods.