Catheter types and their abdominal implantation in peritoneal dialysis.

In the period 1976-1990 a total of 282 chronic uraemic patients were put to peritoneal dialysis by means of abdominally implanted Tenckhoff catheters, out of which 170 had to be replaced. Description of the catheter types is followed by a summary of the rules of surgical implantation and postoperative treatment that should be observed for the peritoneal dialysis to be effective. Discussed are the causes and percentage distribution of changes that call for catheter replacement, finally the alternatives of conservative therapy.