Peritoneoscopic placement of a Tenckhoff catheter for chronic peritoneal dialysis.

The use of peritoneoscopic control in the placement of a Tenckhoff catheter for chronic peritoneal dialysis permits accurate positioning of the catheter. As a result, the risk of malfunction during change of dialysis fluid is considerably reduced, and prior abdominal surgery and adhesions no longer automatically represent contraindications. A special trocar permits the introduction of the catheter to be done more gently, causes less scarring, and does away with the lower Dacron cuff. This prevents the kinking of the catheter in the abdominal wall, and makes the change of dialysis fluid more convenient. In addition, the procedure takes less time to carry out, as does the removal of the catheter on termination of dialysis.