Chronic Peritoneal Dialysis Catheters in Pediatric Patients: Experience of the Italian Registry of Pediatric Chronic Peritoneal Dialysis

During the period 1986–1991, 140 pediatric patients [age≤15 years at the start of chronic peritoneal dialysis (CPD)], belonging to 15 dialysis centers, were enrolled In the Italian Registry of Pediatric Chronic Peritoneal Dlaly 515. Data on 188 peritoneal catheters were collected: 161 catheters were Tenckhoff (144 double-cuff, 17 singlecuff), and 27 were two-cuff Valll-type catheters. All catheters were surgically inserted; the entry site was in the midline In 84 cases and paramedian in 104. An omentectomy was performed in 78.80/0 of the cases. Apart from peritonitis, there were 161 catheter-related complications (103 exit-site infections, 17 leakages, 15 obstructions, 15 outer-cuff extrusions, 5 hemoperltoneum, 6 others) observed during 2687.5 dialysis-months, with an Incidence of one complication every 16.7 dialysis months. Fifty-five catheters (29.2%) were removed; infection (39 cases) was the main cause for removal, followed by obstruction (9 cases), dislocation, and outer-cuff extrusion (2 cases each). Actuarial survival of all catheters was 79.7% at 1 year, 66.6% at 2 years, 42.8% at 3 years, and 39.80/0 at 4 years. No difference In catheter survival was observed according to the entry site. When considering the age of the patients at catheter insertion, a difference close to statistical significance was found (p=0.06).