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Published on: July 20, 2022
Primary malfunction of a peritoneal dialysis catheter due to encasement in an encapsulating sheath
Amir Kazory1, Juan C Cendan, Tracy L Hollen
1Division of Nephrology, Hypertension, and Transplantation, Department of Surgery, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
Insights
A rare cause of peritoneal dialysis catheter malfunction was identified as a thick encapsulating sheath. This rare obstruction required surgical removal, after which the catheter functioned perfectly.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Surgical Innovation
Background:
- Catheter obstruction is a serious complication in peritoneal dialysis (PD).
- Common causes include catheter tip dislocation, fibrin formation, and omental wrapping.
- These issues often necessitate corrective interventions.
Observation:
- A rare case of primary malfunction in a newly placed PD catheter is presented.
- Minimally invasive procedures failed to restore catheter patency.
- Laparoscopy revealed a unique etiology: a thick sheath encapsulating the entire catheter length.
Findings:
- The encapsulating sheath caused complete catheter obstruction.
- No intraluminal fibrin, omental wrapping, or tip dislocation was observed.
- Surgical intervention involved opening the sheath and removing the catheter, which then functioned correctly.
Implications:
- Highlights a rare but complete cause of PD catheter obstruction.
- Suggests laparoscopy as a diagnostic and therapeutic tool for complex PD catheter malfunction.
- Underscores the importance of considering unusual etiologies in refractory PD catheter dysfunction.
Abstract:
Obstruction of the catheter is one of the potentially serious complications of peritoneal dialysis. Dislocation of the tip of the catheter, intraluminal fibrin formation, and omental wrapping are among the most common etiologies of peritoneal dialysis catheter malfunction that necessitate correction. Here we present a rare case of primary malfunction of a newly placed catheter in which multiple attempts to restore the patency by minimally invasive procedures were unsuccessful. Laparoscopy revealed a thick encapsulating sheath around the entire length of the catheter as the etiology of complete obstruction, without involvement of other intra-abdominal structures. The sheath was opened and the catheter was pulled out in its entirety. There was no intraluminal or orifice obstruction and it subsequently functioned perfectly.
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