Continuous peritoneal insulin infusion with portable pumps: factors affecting the operating life of the chronic catheter.

Fifty-nine chronic peritoneal catheters made of polyethylene covered with silastic were used to treat 43 IDDM patients peritoneally for 3-34 mo (mean 14 mo) with portable peristaltic pumps and U40 acidic insulin. The operative life of the catheters was determined by actuarial analysis. The mechanisms of catheter failure were determined by preremoval x-ray opacification, removal under laparoscopic examination, and electron microscopic analysis of the catheter. Factors such as age, sex, duration of diabetes, implantation and tunnelization procedures, length of the catheter, and rate of infusion were analyzed. The 50% survival rate of the catheters was 16 mo. Six catheters were irreversibly obstructed by intraluminal fibrin formation and/or extraluminal adhesions, although insulin precipitation was never encountered. Seven catheters had to be removed because of a persisting local infection. Other causes were negligible (misinsertion, irreparable break). The only factor significantly related to incidence of catheter failure was gender with respect to obstruction (1 obstruction among 24 women versus 5 among 19 men, P less than 0.03).