Weighing PD Catheter Techniques: Surgical vs. Percutaneous

Which is better for placement of a PD catheter—surgery, or use of a tiny incision and guidewire to push the tube through the skin (percutaneous). An analysis of 10 studies with 1,626 patients found no difference in 1-year catheter survival or the rate of peritonitis, tunnel/exit site infection, leaks, obstructions, bleeding, or hernias between the two techniques. But, there were fewer mechanical problems with the percutaneous approach.

Read the abstract » | (added 08-09-2016)