A NEW SALVAGE PROCEDURE FOR PERITONEAL-DIALYSIS CATHETERS WITH EXIT SITE INFECTIONS

The management of catheter-related infections has become a major chall enge in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis treatment. We identi fied five patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis who fa iled conservative medical management for exit site infections. Each pa tient underwent incision and debridement along the subcutaneous course of the catheter, exteriorization of the superficial cuff, and establi shment of a new exit site at the medial aspect of the wound. This nove l technique of incision and debridement along the subcutaneous tunnel and relocation of the exit site has not been described in the literatu re. In four of five patients, this technique controlled the exit site infection and arrested the progression of the infection to peritonitis , preventing the need for catheter removal.