LAPAROSCOPIC PLACEMENT OF TENCKHOFF CATHETERS FOR PERITONEAL DIALYSIS: A SAFE, EFFECTIVE, AND REPRODUCIBLE PROCEDURE

¤ Background/Aims: Currently there are several techniques for laparoscopic placement of peritoneal dialysis catheters. The aim of this paper is to describe our technique and outcomes. ¤ Patients and Methods: Laparoscopic implantation of peri-toneal catheters was performed in 100 consecutive patients. The technique employed laparoscopically guided mus-culofascial tunneling to maintain catheter orientation toward the deep pelvis, and adhesiolysis to eliminate compartmen-talization that could affect completeness of dialysate drain-age. Mean duration of surgery, hospital stay, morbidity, mortality, and catheter survival were assessed. Analysis of catheter survival was performed using the Kaplan–Meier method, with censoring of catheter loss due to death or suc-cessful transplantation