[Peritoneal access: the nephrologist's viewpoint]

The frequency of transfers from peritoneal dialysis to haemodialysis secondary to the catheter-related complications has been estimated between eight to 20% depending the countries. Therefore, it is recommended that the insertion of peritoneal dialysis catheters be made by competent and experienced operators. Indeed, despite the development of new insertion techniques and the availability of new sophisticated catheters, the major prognostic factor remains the quality of the surgical procedure and the postoperative care. As regards the choice between various catheters, there is no consensus for the superiority of one in comparison with others. However it should be noted that a catheter survival rate from 80 to 90% at one year is a recognized index of quality.