A Comparative Study on Using Coiled Versus Straight Swan-Neck Tenckhoff Catheters in Patients Undergoing Peritoneal Dialysis

The key to successful long-term peritoneal dialysis (pd) ispermanent and safe access to peritoneal cavity. the two mostcommonly used tenckoff catheters for po are the straight andcoiled catheters. the present study was undertaken to assessthe catheter survival, catheter associated infections, and allcause mortality and to compare the straight with coiled cathetersin pd. during april 1997-august 2006, 96 patients undergoingperitoneal dialysis in ghaem hospital, mashhad,iran were enrolled in this study. in 53 patients straight catheterand in 43 patients coiled catheter were used. the catheter survival,and catheter associated infections including peritonitisand exit site infection rate were compared between the twogroups. the catheter survival in the two groups was in favor ofcoiled ones. catheter associated peritonitis and exit site infectionwere more prevalent in patients with straight catheters(p=0.027 and p=0 .006 respectively). overall patient survivalrate was not different between the two groups (p=0.919).there was no difference regarding tunnel infection betweenthe two groups (p=0.673). straight pd catheters were not associatedwith more overall patient morality rate but less cathetersurvival was noted in this group. in comparison with coi ledpd catheters, peritonitis and exit site infection were seen morefrequently in patients dialyzed using straight catheters. wefound no difference regarding leakage episodes (p =0.562) orre-operation due to catheter malposition resulting in cathetersalvage (p =0 .26). overall re-operation rate was not differentbetween the two groups (p =0.732). straight pd catheterswere not associated with more patients' morality rate but hadless catheter survival than coiled pd catheters. peritonitis andexit site infection were found more frequently in patients dia lyzedwith straight catheters.