Background

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is an excellent, but underutilized dialysis technique. Thus, its implementation may depend also on the chance to offer this modality of treatment to patients referred late to the nephologists. This approach has recently been named “urgent-start peritoneal dialysis” (UPD). The main barrier to this practice is represented by the fear of early mechanical complications.

Methods

All prevalent patients needing urgent-start PD at our institution between 1 January, 2009 and 31 December, 2019 were included in the study. During this period, 242 peritoneal catheters were inserted in 222 patients. In all patients, an anti-leakage/dislocation suture was made. PD was started within 24 h from catheter placement.

Results

The early incidence of leakages, catheter dislocations, omental wrappings, bleedings, peritonitis and exit-site infections was 11/242 (4.5%), 5/242 (2%), 3/242 (1.2%), 2/242 (0.8%), 6/242 (2.5%) and 4/242 (1.6%), respectively. No bowel perforations were observed. Nearly one third of the late complications (13/45; 35.2%) resulted in discontinuation of PD, while one fourth (11/45; 24.4%) required surgical revision. The remaining episodes (21/45; 46.6%) were successfully managed by a conservative approach. The survival of the catheter at 3, 6, 12, 24, 36 and 48 months was 93.6, 91.2, 84.8, 77.4, 65.5 and 59.3%, respectively. The technique survival at 3, 6, 12, 24, 36 and 48 months was 97.2, 94.9, 87.6, 78.9, 66.6 and 60.0%, respectively. The main causes of PD drop-out included infectious complications (36.8%) followed by mechanical complications (17.5%).

Conclusions

A tight seal between deep cuff and surrounding tissues (double purse-string technique) in association with a starting low-volume exchange scheme allows to minimize early and late mechanical complication in UPD.