Complications with permanent peritoneal dialysis catheters: experience with 154 percutaneously placed catheters.

A prospective study evaluated the complications in 154 patients in whom a permanent peritoneal dialysis catheter was inserted percutaneously from April 1982 to June 1986. Obstruction to flow and fluid leakage occurred in 9.2 and 2.6% of the catheters, respectively. Catheter survival was 64.6 and 48.6% at 1- and 2-year follow-up, respectively. The complication rates and survival of percutaneously placed catheters was comparable to those reported for surgically placed catheters. Percutaneous insertion of Tenckhoff catheters is a viable alternative to using the surgical technique.