Kidney failure: medical insertion of catheters for peritoneal dialysis is as safe as surgery (NIHR, 9 April 2024)

Summary

People with kidney failure or chronic kidney disease, whose kidneys have stopped working properly, may need dialysis. This therapy takes over the normal function of the kidneys and removes waste products and excess fluid from the blood. Many people have regular dialysis in hospital, where fluids are filtered by a machine (haemodialysis). In peritoneal dialysis, often carried out at home, a catheter is inserted in the abdomen and left there permanently.

A catheter can be inserted under general anaesthetic by a surgeon, or without a general anaesthetic by a physician using a needle (medical insertion). Medical insertions have become more common in recent years due to a lack of access to surgeons and theatre space; they have the advantage of being possible in people who are not well enough to have a general anaesthetic. However, evidence on the safety and efficacy of medical insertions is lacking.

This study assessed the number of safety events following catheter insertions for peritoneal dialysis via the medical and surgical route. Researchers explored the reasons for choosing medical, versus surgical catheter insertions.

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