OBJECTIVES: To reduce the incidence of exit-site infection (ESI) a new peritoneal dialysis (PD) catheter, the Swan neck presternal catheter (SNPC), composed of abdominal and presternal parts joined by a titanium connector, with the exit site located on the chest wall, was designed. DESIGN: A prospective study was undertaken to estimate the usefulness of the SNPC for continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) in children. SETTING: University Children's Hospital, Medical Academy, Warsaw, Poland. PATIENTS: From December 1991 to June 1997, 11 SNPCs were implanted in 10 children for the following reasons: recurrent ESI in 3, the presence of ureterocutaneostomies in 3, obesity in 3, the use of diapers in 2, young age in 1, and fecal incontinence in 1. More than one indication was present in some patients. In 7 patients the SNPC was the first PD catheter inserted. INTERVENTION: In all children the presternal catheter was implanted surgically by the modification of the technique described by Twardowski et al. RESULTS: The observation period ranged from 1-60 months. The rate of ESI was 1/162 patient-months. The major complication was trauma of the exit site (4 times in 3 of 10 patients). In spite of leaving an extra length of the catheter in the entire subcutaneous tunnel at the time of implantation, the two parts of the SNPC became disconnected in 2 children (after 7 and 33 months respectively). CONCLUSION: Our results achieved with the SNPC in children are very good. The presternal catheter reduces the risk of ESI. However, the chest localization of the exit site does not help to prevent trauma in children. This type of PD catheter should be reserved for patients with specific indications.

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