Selected best demonstrated practices in peritoneal dialysis access.

Many burdensome interventions that adversely affect the utilization of peritoneal dialysis as renal replacement therapy and patient satisfaction with this treatment modality can be avoided by early peritoneal access placement with embedded catheters, implantation techniques that preempt common catheter complications, and the use of access devices that provide flexibility in exit site location. Catheter embedding consists of subcutaneously burying the external limb of the catheter tubing at the time of the insertion procedure. Interval exteriorization of the catheter is performed when dialysis is needed. Earlier commitment by patients to peritoneal dialysis can be achieved by elimination of catheter maintenance until dialysis is necessary. Catheter embedding is a practical strategy to avoid temporary hemodialysis with vascular catheters and reduces stress on operating room access by allowing more efficient scheduling as non-urgent procedures. Laparoscopic catheter placement enables proactive techniques not available to other conventional insertion methods. These techniques include rectus sheath tunneling to prevent catheter tip migration, selective prophylactic omentopexy to prevent omental entrapment, selective resection of epiploic appendages to prevent catheter obstruction, adhesiolysis to eliminate compartmentalization, and diagnosis and simultaneous repair of previously undiagnosed abdominal wall hernias. Both standard and extended 2-piece catheter systems are necessary to customize the peritoneal access to a variety of body configurations. Catheters should be able to produce lower abdominal, mid-abdominal, upper abdominal, and upper chest exit site locations that facilitate management by the patient without sacrificing deep pelvic position of the catheter tip or resulting in excessive tubing stress during passage through the abdominal wall.