Excellent Technique Survival on Home Peritoneal Dialysis: Results of a Regional Program

Abstract

To examine peritoneal dialysis technique survival in our regional, continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) program. Retrospective analysis. Tertiary care dialysis program at an academic medical center. 155 patients representing all those in the peritoneal dialysis program between October 1, 1987 and October 1, 1990. The study analyzed patient and technique survival as well as the reasons for discontinuation of dialysis. In addition, the incidence and type of peritonitis and exit-site infection were also analyzed. Three-year actuarial patient survival was 66% and three-year technique survival was 86%, with data censored for death and transplant patients. Fifty-seven percent of transfers to hemodialysis were due to peritonitis, usually fungal or multiorganism bacterial. Only 1 patient failed due to exit-site and tunnel infection, and 1 due to inadequate dialysis. The catheter removal rate was 0.04 per patient-year. Excellent CAPD technique survival can be achieved if exit-site and tunnel infection rates are low.