TUNNELED LAPAROSCOPIC PERITONEAL DIALYSIS CATHETER AS A RESOURCE TECHNIQUE IN PERITONEAL DIALYSIS

Surgical approach to peritoneal dialysis (PD) catheters is the main step in achieving successful PD therapy. It is important to conduct a simple and safe procedure, with adequate visualization of the path and location of the catheter, to avoid discontinuation of PD. The tunneled laparoscopic PD catheter (TLPDC) is a reliable surgical alternative in patients who are candidates for PD. MATERIAL AND METHODS This is a retrospective and descriptive study that includes all the patients in whom TLPDC was placed from October 2019 to January 2021. The objective is to know the rate of functioning and evaluate the complications derived from the procedure. RESULTS TLPDC was placed in 7 patients with a mean age of 51.4 (7.7) years and a mean BMI of 26.6 (8.0) kg/m2. Rescue therapy was considered in 6 (85.7%) patients, after removal of a previous PD catheter. There was no case (0.0%) of displacement, being the adequate functioning rate of 85.7%. One (14.3%) case of bacterial peritonitis was diagnosed, resolved with conservative management, and early TLPDC dysfunction in another (14.3%) case, requiring laparoscopic revision on the eleventh postoperative day and its repositioning, with current suspicion of encapsulating peritonitis. CONCLUSIONS The TLPDC approach is a safe and simple technique, avoiding displacement of the catheter and, thus, a higher success rate. However, as a counterpoint, it requires general anesthesia to be performed. Furthermore, an adequate selection of a suitable candidate for PD is necessary to ensure the success of the procedure.