Our nine-year experience with the self-locating catheter: Comparison of malfunction rate with other Tenckhoff catheter variants

Objective: To evaluate catheter-related complications among self-locating and other variants of Tenckhoff catheters. Patients and Methods: We studied all self-locating catheters implanted in our hospitals from May/97 to Dec/05. We extended the follow-up to Jun/05. We collected demographic data, causes of catheter withdrawal and dropping of PD. about technique and catheter related complications. Results: We included 328 catheters in 285 patients. There were 258 self-locating, 5 We studied data 5 straight and 15 curled. There was a higher rate of catheter withdrawal due to malfunction in patients with straight or pig-tail catheters than in self-locating ones (log-rank, p < 0.001). Conclusion: In our patients, self-locating catheters have a lower malfunction rate than other variants of Tenckhoff catheters.