Catheter placement by the nephrologist: a safe and effective method for improving access to peritoneal dialysis

Abstract Introduction: Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is as effective as hemodialysis and provides a better quality of life. However, it remains underused, particularly in our country. The aim of our study was to evaluate the impact of catheter placement by the nephrologist on the incidence of peritoneal dialysis patients, compare the success rates and assess the short- and long-term complications between surgical and nephrologist placements. Methods retrospective study of 69 patients with PD from January 2008 to December 2022. Results 28 received PD catheter placement by nephrologists (group A), while 41 underwent the procedure performed by urologists (group B).The incidence of patients placed on PD has shown a significant increase since the initiation of catheter placement by nephrologists, with a growth rate of over 100% every two years. No significant difference was observed in the incidence of short-term mechanical and infectious complications between the two groups. However, the group B experienced a higher occurrence of long-term mechanical and infectious complications compared to the group A. The waiting time before catheter placement was significantly shorter in group A (5 days vs. 20 days; p < 0.001). The success rate of peritoneal dialysis catheter placement in group A was 92.85%, while it was 97.56% in group B. There was no significant difference in catheter survival at 1 year between the two groups. However, the mean catheter survival was significantly longer in group B (17 months vs. 11 months, p = 0.026). Conclusion The placement of the PD catheter by nephrologists has demonstrated effectiveness and safety.