A retrospective view of factors that affect catheter healing: four years of experience.

To determine factors that lead to successful healing, the results of catheter placement were collected by retrospective chart review in 103 peritoneal dialysis patients between January 1988 and March 1992. There were a total of 112 catheter insertions. A healing time of less than 2 weeks was defined as an optimal outcome. Data were analyzed using contingency tables. Strong predictors of early and effective healing were the following: exit site size less than 0.7 cm, the use of a tunneler to create the exit site, the use of Swan neck catheters, immobilization using Viasorb dressings, and postoperative prophylaxis with intravenous vancomycin. Dialysate leak and the development of hematomas significantly delayed healing. Leaking was associated with early use of the catheter for peritoneal dialysis. Hematoma formation was associated with the use of a tunneler. Uremic or nutritional status, diabetes, immunosuppressive agents, or HIV-positive did not affect catheter healing. Careful attention to intraoperative and postoperative factors optimizes healing independent of complications of primary disease processes in peritoneal dialysis patients.