OBJECTIVE: To examine the impact of peritoneal dialysis catheter configuration, curled or straight catheter, on catheter survival and mechanical and infectious complications. DESIGN: Prospective randomized trial. SETTING: Department of Nephrology of a single university hospital. PATIENTS: Seventy-two consecutive patients initiating peritoneal dialysis were randomized to receive either a single cuff straight catheter or a single cuff curled catheter, implanted by percutaneous technique. RESULTS: Significantly higher (p < 0.01) survival rate of the curled as compared to the straight catheter. The difference in catheter survival was due to a significantly higher (p < 0.01) incidence of drainage failure associated with catheter tip migration of the straight catheter than of the curled catheter. No difference in infectious complication between the two types of catheters was seen. Catheter survival at 12 months was 77% for the curled catheter and 36% for the straight catheter. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates superiority of the curled Tenckhoff peritoneal dialysis catheter survival as compared to the straight catheter. This difference in catheter survival is due to the higher displacement rate of the straight catheter.

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