Tenckhoff Catheters: Technique, Indications and Contraindications

Use and applications of catheters.

This class of catheters is mainly used for continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis, but its use can lead to complications.

Technique to be used

Under general anesthesia, the insertion of a double-ended, gooseneck Tenckhoff catheter begins with placing two 3-mm ports on the contralateral side of the abdomen after induction of the pneumoperitoneum with a Veress needle.

Oomentopexy is done with an abdominal suture pin in the ipsilateral upper quadrant. The catheter is inserted through a 1 cm incision in the skin and rectus sheath.

The catheter is obliquely below the posterior rectus sheath with the help of an 8 mm VersaStep ™ trocar. Under direct vision, the tip of the catheter is directed towards the retrovesical area with extreme care to avoid damage to the inferior epigastric arteries.

Insertion of the Tenckhoff catheter in peritoneal dialysis

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Peritoneal dialysis was used for the first time to treat end-stage renal disease in 1959. In 1968, Henry Tenckhoff developed the permanent peritoneal catheter, placed using an open surgical technique.

Subsequently, percutaneous and laparoscopic techniques have been used for their placement.

 

Peritoneal dialysis has several advantages over hemodialysis, including quality of life due to its ability to provide better patient mobility and independence, simplicity of use, and the clinical benefits of maintaining residual renal function and lower mortality in the first years after starting peritoneal dialysis.

A disadvantage of peritoneal dialysis is poor control of blood pressure due to fluid overload and the risk of peritonitis.

Indications

A chronic peritoneal dialysis is an option for many patients with end-stage renal disease. Indications for peritoneal dialysis include the following:

  • Failure of vascular access.
  • Intolerance to hemodialysis.
  • Congestive heart failure.
  • Valve prosthetic disease.
  • The a significant risk in children from 0 to 5 years old.
  • Patient preferences.
  • Distance from a hemodialysis center.
  • Poor cardiac function
  • Peripheral vascular disease.

Peritoneal dialysis is preferred in patients with the following conditions:

  • Bleeding diathesis
  • Multiple myeloma.
  • Diabetes mellitus labial.
  • Chronic infections
  • Possibility of kidney transplant shortly.
  • Ages between 6 and 16 years old.
  • Anxiety towards the needles.
  • Active lifestyle

Peritoneal dialysis has been used infrequently for non-renal indications with variable benefits in other conditions such as the following:

  • Refractory congestive heart failure.
  • Hepatic failure
  • Hypothermia.
  • Hyperthermia.
  • Hyponatremia
  • Ascites associated with dialysis.
  • Poisoning by drugs.
  • Pancreatitis.
  • Hereditary enzymatic deficiencies.

The intraperitoneal administration has been used for blood transfusions, chemotherapy, insulin, and nutrition.

Contraindications

Contraindications for peritoneal dialysis include the following:

  • Documented insufficiency of type II ultrafiltration.
  • Severe intestinal inflammatory disease.
  • Active acute diverticulitis.
  • Abdominal abscess
  • The active ischemic disease of the intestine.
  • Functional severe psychotic disorder.
  • Intellectual disability marked.
  • Women who begin the third trimester of pregnancy.

Contraindications related to peritoneal dialysis include the following:

  • Severe malnutrition
  • Multiple abdominal adhesions.
  • Ostomy
  • Proteinuria> 10 g / day.
  • Amputation of upper limbs.
  • Poor personal hygiene
  • Dementia.
  • Indigence.

Peritoneal dialysis is not preferable, but it is possible in certain circumstances:

  • Obesity.
  • Multiple hernias
  • Severe back pain
  • Multiple abdominal surgeries
  • Reduced manual dexterity
  • Blindness.
  • The dire situation in the home.
  • Depression.

Anesthesia

Tenckhoff peritoneal dialysis catheters can be placed percutaneously, laparoscopically, or by an open surgical procedure. The anesthetic used will vary with the selected method.

Percutaneous placement can be performed under local anesthesia, while laparoscopic or open surgery requires general anesthesia.

Equipment

Peritoneal dialysis catheters come in various forms (straight, spiral, swan neck), lengths, and several Dacron cuffs.

The peritoneal dialysis catheter comprises a flexible silicone tube with an open end hole and several side holes to provide optimal drainage and dialysate absorption.

The extraperitoneal component of the catheter has one or two Dacron cuffs. Dacron cuffs are for optimal fixation.

In adults, a double-cuff catheter is typically used. With the double cuff peritoneal dialysis catheter, the proximal cuff is placed in the preperitoneal space and the distal cuff in the subcutaneous tissue.

Positioning

The Tenckhoff peritoneal dialysis catheter placement requires that the patient be placed in the supine position.

Technique

Peritoneal dialysis catheters can be placed through a percutaneous, laparoscopic or open surgical approach. Available surgical and laparoscopic techniques are preferred because of their safety and promising initial results.

Although the peritoneal dialysis catheter placement is less invasive, the percutaneous procedure risks unsatisfactory arrangement and intestinal injury.

Open surgical technique.

The patient is placed in the supine position. General anesthesia is used, and intravenous antibiotics are administered.

An infraumbilical incision is made in the midline. The subcutaneous layer is dissected to the rectus abdominis sheath. The anterior rectus sheath opens, and the muscle fibers are studied.

Also, the posterior sheath is incised, and the abdominal cavity is opened after dissecting the peritoneum. The abdomen is inspected for adhesions, and if there are any near the abdominal wall, they are examined.

The patient is then placed in a Trendelenburg position, and the catheter is placed on a stylet and inserted into the peritoneal cavity.

The intraperitoneal portion slides out of the stylet, and the cuff is placed in the preperitoneal space.

The peritoneum and the posterior and anterior rectus sheaths are closed with absorbable sutures, avoiding catheter obstruction and dialysate leakage.

A tunnel is then created to the exit site, which is generally lateral and caudal to the entrance site. The distal cuff is placed subcutaneously, 2 cm from the exit site.

The incision is closed, and the catheter is tested by filling the abdomen with 100 ml of sterile saline while checking the entry site for leaks.

The saline solution is drained and inspected to ensure no intraperitoneal bleeding or fecal contamination.

Laparoscopic technique

The laparoscopic approach to Tenckhoff catheter placement in peritoneal dialysis is increasingly popular due to its advantage of performing a partial omentectomy or lysis of adhesions if necessary during the initial placement of the catheter.

The patient is placed supine, and general anesthesia and intravenous antibiotics are administered.

The pneumoperitoneum is typically established by an open technique with a 5 mm access port in a sub umbilical position of the midline.

Diagnostic laparoscopy is performed with a 5-mm 0-degree lens.

An additional 5 mm trocar is placed under direct vision at the intended position of the exit site of the peritoneal dialysis catheter. This is usually left or right paraumbilical 2-3 cm below the navel.

The trocar is advanced through the anterior and posterior rectus sheaths but not through the peritoneum. Under direct vision, the trocar is directed toward the preperitoneal space, 2-4 cm down, and towards the midline of the abdomen.

The trocar is placed in the abdominal cavity if there are adhesions, and the adhesions are lysed. Next, a peritoneal dialysis catheter is placed through the paraumbilical orifice tipped with a double tip.

If there are no adhesions, the second trocar is left in the preperitoneal space. Next, a rigid style introduces the peritoneal dialysis catheter into the peritoneal cavity.

The distal catheter of the peritoneal dialysis catheter remains outside the peritoneal cavity and is placed in the preperitoneal space or between the rectal sheaths.

The paraumbilical trocar is removed, and the catheter is directed to its exit site. A subcutaneous tunnel is created, and the catheter is carried through the tunnel with the proximal sleeve placed inside the tunnel.

The catheter is tested and the abdomen is deflated. The trocar is removed, and the rectal sheaths are closed, ending the surgical procedure.