A new titanium fiber mesh-cuffed peritoneal dialysis catheter: An experimental animal study

CAPD catheters are associated with infectious complications. To solve this problem, we developed a new catheter. In our design, sintered titanium fibe r mesh material replaced the Dacron (R) cuffs, as used in standard Tenckhof f catheters. The purpose of the current study was to compare the tissue res ponse to new titanium-cuffed vs. Dacron (R) -cuffed catheters. Experimental and standard Tenckhoff catheters were inserted intraperiotonea lly in 12 goats, using a so-called two-stage surgical technique. In the fir st surgical session, the catheters were implanted. However, the percutaneou s part of the catheter was buried subcutaneous. After 3-5 weeks, the percut aneous part of the catheter was exteriorized. After 14 weeks of implantatio n, all implants with surrounding tissue were retrieved and prepared for his tological evaluation. Subsequently, we quantified: the characteristics of t he fibrous tissue capsule surrounding the cuffs, the tissue inside the cuff porosity, and the epidermal downgrowth. Histologic and histomorphometric evaluation showed that titanium mesh evoke d a lesser inflammatory response inside the cuff porosity compared with Dac ron (R) cuffs. Besides, the fibrous tissue capsule surrounding the titanium cuffs was significantly thinner. Supported by the obtained results, we conclude that the use of titanium fib er mesh has a great potential for application in percutaneous devices. (C) 2001 Kluwer Academic Publishers.