Peritoneal access and related complications in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis

Over a four-year period, 50 patients underwent continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis. After 24 months, 48 percent of the patients continued to receive continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis treatment (including those who underwent continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis with bottled solutions from 1977 to 1978). Using solutions in plastic bags, 63 percent of patients continued to undergo continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis after 24 months. The mortality rate at 24 months was 23 percent overall and 15 percent for those using plastic bags. There was an overall average of 2.4 episodes of peritonitis a year per patient and 1.3 episodes a year per patient from 1979 through 1980, when only the technique with plastic bags was used. The number of days a patient was hospitalized averaged 48 per year, and 37 days per year in 1979 and 1980. Fifty-five percent of catheters remained functional at 24 months. Other complications included 15 hernias, 15 skin and tunnel infections, 12 leaks, and five cuff extrusions. Improved catheters and further reductions in the incidence of peritonitis will most likely result in a decreased number of patients who withdraw from continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis therapy.