Percutaneous technique of presternal peritoneal dialysis catheter placement.

Presternally exiting peritoneal dialysis (PD) catheters have been described as advantageous compared to abdominally exiting catheters with regard to infection, wound healing, and other complications. Placement of such catheters has only been described with open surgical techniques and not by percutaneous means. In this article we describe 15 patients who received percutaneously placed PD catheters with a presternal exit site. These patients received their procedures in an outpatient procedure room performed by an interventional nephrologist. In all but one case, immediate technical success was achieved. In only one case was peritonitis documented. All catheters are still functional, including some with follow-up as long as 15 months. Percutaneous placement of presternally exiting PD catheters is technically straightforward and can avoid an open surgical procedure.