Perit Dial Int
3(2):
77-80
1983
© 1983 International Society for Peritoneal Dialysis
REVIEWS AND ORIGINAL ARTICLES |
CLINICAL TRIALS OF THE COLUMN DISC PERITONEAL CATHETER (LIFECATH TM)
Stephen R. Ash*,** and
Jeffrey D. Struewing***
* Hemodialysis Laboratory, A.A. Potter En
gineering Center, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907.**
Arnett Clinic and St. Elizabeth Hospital,
Lafayette, IN 47904. *** Indiana University Medical
Center, Indianapolis, IN 46202
The column-disc catheter is a peritoneal access device which is affixed to
the lower anterior abdominal wall. A large peripheral port allows inflow and
outflow of peritoneal fluid with a fluid velocity 20 times less than that of
the Tenckhoff catheter. The location and shape of the column-disc catheter
completely prevents migration. Forty-six such catheters have been placed in a
variety of patients at six institutions. Most of the patients were at
"high risk" for Tenckhoff catheter failure, as defined by Ponce
et al (3). Total experience is over 250 patient-months; six catheters
have been in place for longer than 17 months. Of seven early catheter
failures, five were related to faulty placement technique and the other two
were in "high risk" patients. Late catheter failures have not been
encountered. In three cases the catheter was removed because of peritonitis
which failed to clear. No instances of exit site erosion have occurred.
Monthly outflow studies have indicated consistent outflow. During each
outflow, the deceleration of flow occurred at a later time in each outflow,
than with Tenckhoff catheters. The LifeCathTM is an effective alternative to
the Tenckhoff catheter, especially indicated for patients at high risk for
failure of Tenckhoff catheters.
Copyright © 1983 by Multimed Inc.
