Malfunctioning peritoneal dialysis catheter and accompanying surgical pathology repaired by laparoscopic surgery

Abstract

Objectives: To review the laparoscopic salvaging of malfunctioning peritoneal dialysis (PD) catheters, and to present our experience with laparoscopic repair of dysfunctional Tenckhoff catheters and the treatment of accompanying surgical pathologies. Design: Malfunctioning peritoneal catheters were repaired using laparoscopic rescue techniques. Accompanying surgical problems were treated in the same operation. The effectiveness of these approaches was validated by comparison with other remedial techniques described previously. Patients: Malfunctioning PD catheters were salvaged by laparoscopic surgery in 8 patients, and accompanying surgical problems were treated in the same operation in 3 of the 8 patients. Main Outcome Measures: Outcome was measured by the successful return to adequate PD and effective treatment of surgical problems. Results: Eight patient studies show laparoscopic correction of malfunctioning catheters and the treatment of accompanying surgical pathologies with the return to successful PD. Conclusion: The salvaging of malfunctioning PD catheters by laparoscopic surgery is an ideal method. This procedure permits simultaneous identification and correction of other surgical problems that could otherwise complicate dialysis therapy.