Factors associated with early peritoneal dialysis catheter replacement in Veracruz, Mexico.

INTRODUCTION: Catheter-related complications in patients on peritoneal dialysis lead to decreased effectiveness and discontinuation of the technique, conversion to haemodialysis, hospitalisation, and surgical interventions to replace the catheter.

OBJECTIVES: Determine risk factors for early catheter dysfunction that result in the need for replacement.

METHODS: We analysed 235 catheters placed by open surgery using an infra-umbilical midline incision. Possible risk factors included the following: age, sex, body mass index, body surface area, diabetes, polycystic kidney disease, previous surgery, time of surgical procedure, omentectomy, omentopexy, wound infection and postoperative incisional hernia.

RESULTS: During the first year, 47 patients (20%) required a catheter replacement due to poor function. The most common complications were catheter migration and peritonitis (4.3% in both cases), followed by obstruction from omental wrapping (3.7%). Univariate analysis showed that patients with catheter dysfunction or requiring catheter replacement were younger, with a lower body mass index and body surface area (P<.05). There was a significant association of wound infection and post-operative incisional hernia with catheter replacement. Omentectomy was associated with a low incidence rate of catheter dysfunction/replacement in the univariate and logistical regression analyses (odds ratio: 0.275; 95% confidence interval: 0.101-0.751; P<.012).

CONCLUSIONS: Our catheter placement technique offers a low complication rate and good results in the first year after surgery. Except for omentectomy, we did not discover any risk factors for catheter replacement in our study population. Omentectomy had a protective effect in terms of catheter replacement.