The Tenckhoff Catheter for Peritoneal Dialysis – An Appraisal

Authors:
  • JRJack Rubin
    Jack Rubin
  • CACatherine M. Adair
    Catherine M. Adair
  • SRSashadri Raju
    Sashadri Raju
  • JBJohn D. Bower
    John D. Bower
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Abstract
We prospectively evaluated early (within 40 days) catheter complications in all patients receiving a dialysis catheter between 1/8/80 and 1/8/81. 50% of patients achieved a functioning catheter at the first insertion and 24% required replacement of the catheter because of poor dialysate flow. Leaking from the catheter exit site occurred in 20%, infection at the exit site in 9% and peritonitis in 19% of patients. In patients who maintain a catheter over 40 days and undergo treatment by long-term peritoneal dialysis median catheter survival was 400 days with delayed cytheter failure primarily due to failure to resolve a clinical episode of peritonitis. Although the Tenckhoff catheter is readily inserted frequent complications occur.