We performed a prospective randomized trial, comparing the incidence of peritonitis between a flush-disconnect (O-System, Baxter, Deerfield, IL) (OS) and a conventional (System II, Baxter) (CS) continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) method. Sixty consenting patients with no significant physical disabilities who commenced CAPD after May 1987 were entered and followed for a minimum of 12 months. Thirty were placed on the OS system and 30 were placed on CS. Age, gender, and time for training did not differ significantly. The period of observation for OS was 375 months; CS was observed for 430 months. OS patients experienced 28 episodes of peritonitis (13.4 months/patient/episode) compared with 88 (4.9 months/patient/episode) in CS (p less than 0.005). By 6 months, 32% of OS patients had had at least one episode of peritonitis, compared with 62% of CS patients; at 12 months, these figures rose to 48% for OS and 91% for CS (p less than 0.01) patients (Life Table Analysis). The median survival time to first peritonitis episode was 5.1 months in CS and 9.7 months in OS (p less than 0.01). Exit-site infections occurred in 14/30 (46%) of patients on OS and in 13/30 (43%) of CS patients. We conclude that the OS was associated with a significant reduction in the incidence of peritonitis.

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