Malfunctioning Peritoneal Dialysis Catheter Repaired by Laparoscopic Surgery

OBJECTIVES: To review peritoneal dialysis catheter failures and to describe a technique of repairing malpositioned catheters. DESIGN: Two prospective case reports utilizing this technique are reported. SETTING: A tertiary care hospital. PATIENTS: Two patients on chronic peritoneal dialysis with malfunctioning catheters. INTERVENTION: Both patients underwent reposition of their malpositioned continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis catheters by laparoscopic suture technique. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Outcome was measured by the successful return of adequate peritoneal dialysis. RESULTS: Both case studies show correction of malpositioned catheters with the return of successful peritoneal dialysis. CONCLUSION: The repositioning and suture application of malpositioned Tenckhoff catheters by laparoscopic surgery is a viable technique that can salvage the majority of malpositioned catheters and save the patients additional hospital time and recovery.