Our long-term results of Tenckhoff peritoneal dialysis catheters placement via laparoscopic preperitoneal tunneling technique.

Previously we described the technique to lessen complications of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) and to achieve immediate use of the catheter. In this study we evaluated our long-term results of the technique. A total of 61 procedures were carried out in 58 patients from September 2003 to February 2009. All patients were followed in our hospital CAPD clinic. Demographic, medical, operative, postoperative, and other information regarding complications and continued patient management was obtained retrospectively from the patients' medical records and entered into a computerized database. There were 33 men and 25 women. The mean age was 58 years. In 29 of the 58 patients indication of catheter placement was end stage renal failure combined with diabetes mellitus. Mean follow-up time was 33.31 ± 20.11 months. Catheter related complications were outflow obstruction (n=3, 5.2%) and peritonitis (n=2, 3.4%). Etiologies of catheter removal were out flow obstruction (n=2), recovery from renal disease (n=2), peritonitis (n=1), and pregnancy (n=1). The mean catheter survival time was found 5.57 ± 0.17 years. Our long-term results showed that the method ensured accurate placement, preperitoneal fixation, and immediate use of the catheter for routine peritoneal dialysis. Preperitoneal fixation of the catheter decreased outflow obstruction over long-term follow-up.