#4062 PERITONEAL DIALYSIS CATHETER SURVIVAL: A TEN-YEAR SINGLE CENTER STUDY
Authors: Rodrigues Bárbara Beirão , Freitas Mariana , Francisco Jose , Borges João , Pereira Ana Beatriz , Sousa Círia , Pereira Pedro Reis , Prata Catarina , Castro Rui , Morgado Teresa Pinto Ribeiro 
Published: June 2023

Abstract

Background and aims
Timely insertion and adequate management of peritoneal dialysis catheter (PDC) related complications are crucial for the success of Peritoneal Dialysis (PD). The aim of the present study was to review the peritoneal dialysis catheter outcomes at our center and evaluate variables influencing catheter survival.

Methods
We conducted a retrospective study including 146 patients who had their first PD catheter implanted between 1st of August 2012 and 31st of July 2022 in our institution. The primary endpoint was PD catheter failure, defined as removal of the PD catheter due to catheter-related complications. Kaplan-Meier curves were used to estimate catheter survival. Cox regression model was used to identify factors that were independently associated with catheter survival. All demographic and clinical characteristics of the patients and PD complications were included as covariates. A p value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results
The study population included 85 men and 61 women, aged 55.1 $ \pm {\rm{\ }}$ 16.7 years. Mean follow-up was 26.5 +/- 22.7 months. Diabetes was the most common etiology of the stage 5 chronic kidney disease (n = 41, 28%), followed by chronic glomerulonephritis (n = 30, 20.5%). Ninety patients (61.2%) had one or more comorbidities and seventeen (11,6%) had previous abdominal surgery. In 98 patients (60.1%), the PDC was inserted using a mini-laparotomy approach, whereas the laparoscopic method was used in 54 patients (33.1%). Only 8 patients (4.9%) had their catheter placed percutaneously using the Seldinger technique. The total number of patients with one or more PD-related infectious complications during follow-up was 99 (67%): 51 patients (31%) had a single episode and 29 (17.8%) had multiple episodes of peritonitis; 34 patients (20.9%) had a single episode of PD catheter related exit site or tunnel infection, while 47 (28.8%) had more than 1 event. Sixty-six patients (45%) had PD-related mechanical complications, mostly due to outflow failure (19 patients with catheter migration, 11 with omental wrapping). The remaining non-infectious complications were hernia (n = 20, 13.7%), hemoperitoneum (n = 8, 5,5%), leakage (n = 4, 2.7%) and pleuroperitoneal shunt (n = 4, 2.7%). Fourteen patients required intervention due to mechanical complications, namely repositioning of the catheter with fluoroscopic technique in 8 patients and surgical repositioning in 6. Removal of the catheter was required in 49 patients (33.6%). The leading cause of catheter removal was infection (n = 29, 59%): peritonitis in 28 patients and refractory tunnel infection in 1. Mechanical complications were also a significant factor, accounting for 40.8% of the removals (n = 20). Overall PD catheter survival rates over 12, 24 and 36 months were 80.2%, 72.4% and 61.6%, respectively. PD catheter-related non-infectious complications was the only independent variable significantly associated with catheter survival (Hazard ratio 2.573; 95% CI 1.426–4.645). No significant association was observed between the PD catheter survival and other risk factors including age, diabetic status, comorbidities, previous abdominal surgeries, method of catheter insertion or infectious complications.

Conclusions
PDC non-infectious complications were the only independent factor significantly associated with catheter survival. Despite the significant number of infectious complications, including peritonitis, it was found that these complications did not result in a significant decrease in catheter survival. These findings highlight the crucial role of proper management of peritoneal dialysis catheter-related non-infectious complications for successful and long-term usage of PDC.