Resuming peritoneal dialysis after secondary embedding of the peritoneal dialysis catheter in the end-of-life period: A case report

Secondary embedding of a peritoneal dialysis (PD) catheter has been performed for patients whose kidney function has improved enough to stop dialysis but recovery is not expected to be long term. In addition, we have also performed the procedure for patients who have poor general condition due to severe cerebrovascular and/or cardiac disease or who wish to have PD again at the end of life. Here, we report the case of the first terminal haemodialysis (HD) patient who resumed PD using a secondarily embedded catheter as an end-of-life choice. The patient had undergone secondary embedding of a PD catheter and had been transferred to HD, during which time multiple pulmonary metastases of thyroid cancer were observed. She hoped to resume PD in the end-of-life period, and the catheter was subsequently externalised. The catheter was used immediately, and the patient has continued on PD over the past 1 month without infectious or mechanical complications. For elderly end-stage kidney disease patients with progressive disease and cancer, secondary embedding of the PD catheter may be an option to permit them to live the remainder of their lives at home.

SAGES peritoneal dialysis access guideline update 2023

BACKGROUND

Minimally invasive surgery has been used for both de novo insertion and salvage of peritoneal dialysis (PD) catheters. Advanced laparoscopic, basic laparoscopic, open, and image-guided techniques have evolved as the most popular techniques. The aim of this guideline was to develop evidence-based guidelines that support surgeons, patients, and other physicians in decisions on minimally invasive peritoneal dialysis access and the salvage of malfunctioning catheters in both adults and children.

METHODS

A guidelines committee panel of the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons reviewed the literature since the prior guideline was published in 2014 and developed seven key questions in adults and four in children. After a systematic review of the literature, by the panel, evidence-based recommendations were formulated using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach. Recommendations for future research were also proposed.

RESULTS

After systematic review, data extraction, and evidence to decision meetings, the panel agreed on twelve recommendations for the peri-operative performance of laparoscopic peritoneal dialysis access surgery and management of catheter dysfunction.

CONCLUSIONS

In the adult population, conditional recommendations were made in favor of: staged hernia repair followed by PD catheter insertion over simultaneous and traditional start over urgent start of PD when medically possible. Furthermore, the panel suggested advanced laparoscopic insertion techniques rather than basic laparoscopic techniques or open insertion. Conditional recommendations were made for either advanced laparoscopic or image-guided percutaneous insertion and for either nonoperative or operative salvage. A recommendation could not be made regarding concomitant clean-contaminated surgery in adults. In the pediatric population, conditional recommendations were made for either traditional or urgent start of PD, concomitant clean or clean-contaminated surgery and PD catheter placement rather than staged, and advanced laparoscopic placement rather than basic or open insertion.

Risk Factors and Management of Catheter Malfunction During Urgent-Start Peritoneal Dialysis

Background: Catheter malfunction is a common complication of peritoneal dialysis (PD). This study aimed to retrospectively analyze the risk factors and management of catheter malfunction in urgent-start PD.

Methods: Patients who underwent urgent-start PD were divided into catheter-malfunction and control groups. Baseline demographic and laboratory data of the two groups were compared, and the risk factors for catheter malfunction were analyzed. Primary outcome measure was catheter survival, and the secondary outcomes were surgical complications and malfunction treatment.

Results: Total of 700 patients was analyzed, among whom 143 (20.4%) experienced catheter malfunctions, specifically catheter migration (96, 67.1%), omental wrapping (36, 25.2%), and migration plus omental wrapping (11, 7.7%). Catheter survival time in the malfunction group (202.5 ± 479.4 days) was significantly shorter than that in the control group (1295.3 ± 637.0 days) (P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis revealed higher body mass index [hazard ratio (HR), 1.061; 95% confidence intervals (CI), 1.010–1.115; P = 0.018], lower surgeon count (HR, 1.083; 95% CI, 1.032–1.136; P = 0.001), and higher serum potassium (HR, 1.231; 95% CI, 1.041–1.494; P = 0.036) as independent risk factors for catheter malfunction, while older age (HR, 0.976, 95% CI, 0.962–0.991; P = 0.002) and colonic dialysis (HR, 0.384; 95% CI, 0.254–0.581; P < 0.001) as protective factors. Further subgroup analysis revealed a shorter catheter survival time in patients with younger age ( ≤ 40 years), higher serum potassium levels (≥5 mmol/L), while a longer catheter survival time in patients with colonic dialysis. PD tube and subcutaneous tunnel preservation was successful in 41 out of 44 patients with omental wrapping. All patients had good post-incision prognoses.

Conclusions: Urgent-start PD is safe and effective for unplanned PD patients. Adequate pre-operative colonic dialysis and serum potassium level control are conducive in preventing catheter malfunction. Conservative treatment is effective in managing catheter migration alone, while preservation of the PD tube and the subcutaneous tunnel is effective for omental wrapping.

Minilaparotomy for malfunctioning peritoneal dialysis catheter by nephrologists: experiences at two centers

Catheter malfunction is one of the most important complications of peritoneal dialysis (PD). We have performed minilaparotomy for catheter repair by nephrologists. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of the surgery. The surgery was performed 11 times on 10 PD patients with catheter malfunction (3 man, 7 women; mean age 54.3 ± 14.6 years; 4 diabetes, 3 glomerulonephritis, 3 other) at two hospitals. All patients had inflow and/or outflow obstruction. One patient had inserted the PD catheter using conventional surgical technique, and the remaining nine patients had used Moncrief-Popovich technique. Seven patients with catheters embedded using the Moncrief-Popovich technique showed catheter occlusion at the time of externalization. The remaining three patients experienced catheter obstruction 6.0 ± 2.9 months after commencing PD. The cause of obstruction was fibrin in six patients, wrapping by fimbriae of the fallopian tube in two patients, omentum wrapping in two patients. One patient had no blockage in the catheter. Operative time was 97 ± 46 min, and no intraoperative complications were observed. PD was interrupted for 5.9 ± 3.0 days and was resumed without leakage in all patients. However, catheter malfunction recurred in one patient 3 months after the surgery. The mean hospital stay was 22.4 ± 14.7 days. Minilaparotomy by nephrologists is a safety and suitable for the management of catheter malfunction. In addition, it is necessary to always consider the possibility that the catheter has been occluded at the time of externalization in the Moncrief-Popovich technique.

Minilaparotomy salvage of malfunctioning catheters in peritoneal dialysis

BACKGROUND

Catheter malfunction is a common and significant complication during peritoneal dialysis (PD). We developed a minilaparotomy procedure to rescue malfunctioning catheters and to prevent recurrence of malfunction.

METHODS

From 2006 to 2011, 11 patients receiving PD had a malfunctioning catheter. In all patients, a 2-cm incision, 5 cm caudally to the previous peritoneal entry site was used to correct the malfunctioning catheter, with concomitant fixation of the catheter to the peritoneum.

RESULTS

Catheter tip migration occurred in 7 patients, omental wrapping in 3, and blood clot obstruction in 1. The mean onset time to catheter malfunction was 197.5 days (range: 4 - 1270 days), and the mean operating time was 41 minutes (range: 35 - 56 minutes). There was no recurrence of catheter malfunction and no surgery-related peritonitis.

CONCLUSIONS

Our minilaparotomy procedure is safe and feasible for the salvage of malfunctioning PD catheters.