Complications of permanent catheter implantation for peritoneal dialysis: incidence and risk factors

We reviewed the incidence and risk factors for complications after insertion of permanent catheters for peritoneal dialysis (PD). We implanted 192 peritoneal catheters in 137 patients over ten years. Fifty-three complications were observed in 50 catheters (27.6%) implanted in 42 patients (30.6%): malposition or omental entrapment (13%), dialysate leak (8.9%), hemoperitoneum (3.6%), peritonitis (1%), surgical wound infection (0.5%), and chylous ascites (0.5%). The only significant risk factors for a complicated insertion were previous abdominal surgery, particularly if it affected the peritoneal membrane, and early use of the catheter after implantation (< 5 days), independent of surgical or closed insertion.