History and development of the access for peritoneal dialysis.

Abstract

One of the most important components of the peritoneal dialysis system is a permanent and trouble-free access to the peritoneal cavity. Although in the development of peritoneal access various ideas have been tried, nowadays only catheters penetrating the abdominal integument are in use. Unfortunately, none of the currently used catheters is trouble free; poor dialysate drainage, pericatheter leaks, exit site and tunnel infections, and recurrent peritonitis episodes are frequently encountered. Therefore, there is an incessant search for new technological solutions, including new shapes of intraperitoneal and intramural catheter segments and new catheter materials are tried. This chapter will present a brief history of peritoneal catheter development and describe the designs of the most commonly used catheters.