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IMAGING IN DIALYSIS PATIENTS

Imaging and Peritoneal Dialysis Catheters


Stephen Ash,* Adrian Sequeira,† and Rajeev Narayan‡
*Indiana University Health Arnett, Lafayette, Indiana, †LSU Health Shreveport School of Medicine,
Shreveport, Louisiana, and ‡San Antonio Kidney Disease Access Center, San Antonio, Texas

ABSTRACT

The placement of a peritoneal dialysis (PD) catheter by video clips that should assist interventionalists. Compared
interventionalists demands not only procedural skill but with the fluoroscopic technique, peritoneoscopic PD
also an ability to decipher real-time ultrasonographic and catheter placement provides direct visual imaging to also
fluoroscopic images. In this article, we discuss how imag- aid placement of the initial trocar and the peritoneal
ing assists in PD placement and recognition of complica- catheter.
tions. To aid this endeavor, we have provided images and

Tunneled peritoneal dialysis catheters are the tip or coil of the catheter should lie next to the
most successful long-term transcutaneous access parietal peritoneum in the lower abdomen
devices ever used in medical practice. While flow • The deep cuff should be within the rectus mus-
and infection problems complicate central venous cle, near the medial or lateral border of the rec-
catheters for hemodialysis in weeks to months, peri- tus sheath and
toneal dialysis (PD) catheters can provide successful • The subcutaneous cuff should be approximately
dialysis access for years with few problems in dialy- 2 cm from the skin exit site
sate flow or infection. The various components of
In placement of peritoneal catheters, it is best to
the catheter must be placed in specific locations
choose a deep cuff location that is free of major
within quite different tissues and spaces, such as the
blood vessels (Fig. 2). The superficial epigastric
lower part of the peritoneal cavity, the rectus mus-
arteries course from the femoral artery and ligament
cle tissue, and subcutaneous space. During place-
toward the umbilicus, anterior to the rectus sheath.
ment of a PD catheter, entry must be obtained into
The inferior epigastric artery generally lie in the
a cavity that is normally almost completely empty,
posterior portion the rectus muscle, and roughly in
the peritoneum. Recognition of the various tissues
the middle of the rectus sheath, but there is consid-
encountered during PD catheter placement is greatly
erable variation in its course. Considering the posi-
aided by the images of fluoroscopy or perito-
tion of these arteries, the safest locations for placing
neoscopy, even though careful physical examina-
the deep cuff are in the rectus muscle near the med-
tion, surgical techniques, and sensitivity to tactile
ial or lateral border. The parietal peritoneum
sensations are still needed.
attachment to the posterior rectus sheath is another
consideration, since this attachment is what allows
a penetrating needle or trocar to puncture the peri-
General Principles of PD Catheter Placement
toneum rather than merely stretching it. The peri-
toneal attachment is stronger in the mid or upper
There is general agreement on the proper location
abdomen than in the lower abdomen. Below the
of the components of chronic peritoneal catheters
arcuate line, which is somewhere between the
(Fig. 1):
umbilicus and the pubis, the posterior rectus sheath
• The intraperitoneal portion should be between disappears and the parietal peritoneal attachment is
the parietal and visceral peritoneum, and the weak; the attachment is strongest near the umbili-
cus. Regardless of the location of the umbilicus, the
Address correspondence to: Dr. Adrian Sequeira, MD, entry to the peritoneum by a needle or trocar and
FACP, FASN, FASDIN, LSU Health Shreveport School of subsequent location of the deep cuff should be at a
Medicine, 1501 Kings Highway, Shreveport, LA 71103, level above the anterior superior iliac spine. When
e-mail: aseque@lsuhsc.edu. the entry to the peritoneum is above the umbilicus,
Conflict of interest: None.
it should be done with caution on the medial border
Seminars in Dialysis—Vol 30, No 4 (July–August) 2017
pp. 338–346
of the right rectus, to avoid the falciform ligament,
DOI: 10.1111/sdi.12607 which attaches to the parietal peritoneum and runs
© 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. from the umbilicus toward the liver.
338
IMAGING AND PERITONEAL DIALYSIS CATHETERS 339

Fig. 1. Proper relationship of peritoneal cuffs to abdominal musculature, parietal and visceral peritoneum, and skin exit site for
straight Tenckhoff catheter.

• The thickness of the rectus muscle; a 1 cm


thickness is ideal for reception of the entire
deep cuff
• The location of the inferior epigastric artery
within the rectus muscle. With 2D echo, the
vessel appears as a round, echo-free space
which expands with heartbeats and does not
compress under pressure from the probe. With
color power Doppler (CPD), it is recognized by
red or blue, pulsatile color. The artery is easiest
to find by first locating it in the lower part of
the rectus and tracking it upward. It usually
lies near the middle of the rectus muscle and
against the posterior rectus sheath, but has
Fig. 2. Major blood vessels and landmarks of the anterior
considerable variation. Smaller arteries and
abdominal wall. Open squares represent the preferred points for veins also can be identified by CPD. If the infe-
location of the deep cuff of a chronic peritoneal catheter within rior epigastric artery is not found by either
the medial or lateral border of the rectus muscle after careful method of ultrasound, then it is small and unli-
ultrasound evaluation of the rectus muscle and peritoneal sur- kely to cause any bleeding problems during
faces. Solid squares indicate the external landmarks used during placement of the catheter. Using ultrasound
blind insertion of a needle or cannula at the start of blind cathe- and a marker, one can “surface mark” the infe-
ter placement. rior epigastric artery onto the abdomen. This
will provide a visual guide to the course of the
vessel.
• The absence of bulky or firm adhesions
between the visceral and parietal peritoneal sur-
Patient Evaluation Prior to PD Catheter
faces. The normal visceral peritoneum moves
Surgery
freely against the parietal peritoneum. When
the patient inhales deeply, all of the visceral
In determining the best entry point for a needle
surfaces and structures that are imaged move
or trocar into the peritoneum, and the location of
caudally out of the field of view and return on
the deep cuff of the PD catheter, ultrasound is
exhalation; this is known as visceral slide (1).
immensely valuable. Ultrasound evaluation
Also, the normal parietal peritoneum has a
improves the ease and success of the placement pro-
clear double line image on ultrasound, created
cedure and occasionally prevents bleeding and
by the posterior rectus sheath and the parietal
immediate failure of the procedure or catheter.
peritoneum (separated by a thin layer of fat). If
Using a medium frequency (10–12 MHz) vascular
a single line is seen, or no line is seen clearly,
probe such as used in placing internal jugular cathe-
there is a chance that this is an area of adhe-
ters, accurate information can be gained on:
sions. Though this method is not perfect, it at
• The exact location of the medial and lateral least demonstrates the presence of thick adhe-
border of the rectus muscle, noted by thinning sions (as often seen underneath surgical scars).
of the rectus sheath at these locations It also demonstrates whether adhesions are
340 Ash et al.
more likely on one side of the abdomen or the
other.
• The thickness of the subcutaneous fat layer
between the rectus muscle and the skin and a
comparison of the fat layer thickness at differ-
ent levels. In patients with panniculus, the fat
is much thicker in the lower abdomen than in
the mid abdomen. In general, the length of
the skin incision over the deep cuff location
should be the same as the depth of the fat
layer.
To properly perform the ultrasound examination,
the patient must lie flat in the supine position, as
they will on the procedure table. Figure 3 is an Fig. 4. Noncontrast CT of patient with subcutaneous plexus of
example of an ultrasound of the lateral border of veins developing after superior vena cava occlusion, and shown
penetrating the rectus muscle sheath (white arrows).
the rectus muscle in a normal patient, and the Sup-
porting Information files also include a video ultra-
sound (Video S1).
During the ultrasound examination, there are
sometimes surprises, such as subcutaneous veins,
which enlarge with superior vena cava (SVC) occlu-
sion, connect through the rectus, and create a
plexus in the pre-peritoneal space of the abdominal
wall. A subcutaneous plexus of veins is shown in
Fig. 4, a noncontrast CT of the anterior abdominal
wall in a patient with asymptomatic (and previously
undetected) SVC occlusion. This is similarly seen in
portal hypertension (Video S2).

Fluoroscopic Peritoneal Dialysis Catheter


Placement

Following entry into the peritoneum, the correct


position of the needle is easily confirmed by instil-
lation of radiocontrast medium as shown in Fig. 5
(Video S3). When contrast is injected, a spider-like
image immediately develops as the dye expands
into small spaces between the irregular visceral
Fig. 5. Radiologic images on injecting dye through a needle
into the peritoneum. Arrow shows tip of the Veress needle.

folds and the smooth parietal peritoneum. Ultra-


sound is also helpful in controlling the passage of
the needle through the rectus sheath, adding visual
tracking to the feeling of a “pop” as the posterior
rectus sheath and peritoneum are penetrated
(Video S4).
Insertion of a long guide wire into the abdomen
and advancing it until it forms a curve in the lower
abdomen brings the wire against the parietal peri-
toneal surface as shown in Fig. 6. If the wire forms
a large curve and crosses the midline, it is a good
sign that the wire is against the parietal peritoneum
and is not in a bowel lumen or a recess formed
under bowel loops or adhesions. A 5 Fr side-port
sheath can be advanced over the wire and used to
inject dye during retraction (Fig. 7 and Video S5).
Fig. 3. Ultrasound of abdominal wall near the lateral border of If there is a through and through perforation of the
the rectus. [Color figure can be viewed at wileyonlinelibrary.com] bowel loop (as can occur by entering an area of
IMAGING AND PERITONEAL DIALYSIS CATHETERS 341
If an 18-gauge or smaller needle penetrates the
bowel and this is detected by injection of a small
volume of contrast, there is usually not much dam-
age to the bowel wall. The procedure can be
stopped and the patient admitted for observation
and intravenous antibiotics. Surgical repair is not
necessary but needs to be considered on a case-by-
case basis (2).
After confirmation of the proper location of the
needle and the guidewire, a dilator and then dilator
with split sheath are advanced over the guidewire.
The catheter is then advanced through the split
sheath so as to follow the same course as the guide-
wire. As the catheter is advanced through the split
sheath, the deep cuff reaches the anterior surface of
the rectus muscle. When the deep cuff is properly
placed, the top edge can be felt but not seen, below
the external rectus sheath (Video S9). A suture may
Fig. 6. Course of guidewire after insertion and curving into the be applied around the deep cuff if needed. The
anterior peritoneal space. catheter is then tunneled laterally and downward to
an exit site.
adhesions), then the outline of the visceral lumen After the catheter is placed, contrast should be
will occur as the sheath is retracted. injected through it to assure free flow into the peri-
The value of the initial peritoneogram is that it toneum. The contrast will quickly move into sur-
confirms that the tip of the entering needle or trocar rounding peritoneal spaces and become more dilute
has entered the peritoneal space. It is important if saline has been injected to the abdomen, as shown
to recognize the images that represent needle in Video S10. Sometimes, the catheter will be lying
penetration into other organs or spaces outside the in position near a large flat structure, such as a
peritoneum. If the injection is pre-peritoneal, a flat- bowel loop, the bladder, or a cul-de-sac; in this
sided image of the dye evolves, and the dye does not case, the contrast will outline the flat surface and
diffuse quickly over time. This image usually has initially fill a limited space (Video S11). This might
sharp borders in the shape of a dagger (Video S6). If appear like the catheter is within a pocket. How-
the needle penetrates the visceral fat, the injected con- ever, the fluoroscopy should be used to image about
trast forms a round shape that also does not change 15 seconds after injection of contrast. If the contrast
quickly. Figure 8 is an image that developed after progresses away from this limited space to enter the
injection of a needle into colon (Video S7). Figure 9 larger peritoneal space, then the catheter is appro-
is an image after injection of contrast into the small priately placed. Outflow of clear fluid from the
bowel (through a completely placed peritoneal cathe- catheter and change in air-fluid level in the catheter
ter). Figure 10 is an image from injection of contrast with inspiration also indicates free communication
through a Veress needle, into the bladder (Video S8). to the peritoneum.

Fig. 7. Pull back peritoneogram images using a 5Fr sheath. Note the sheath is over the glidewire and the wire makes a smooth turn
across the pelvic cavity. Contrast is injected through the sheath as it is pulled back over the wire. Arrow marks the tip of the 5Fr sheath.
(A–D) Contrast between bowel loops. If the bowel were perforated, then features suggestive of valvulae conniventes (small bowel) or
haustral folds (large bowel) would be seen. [Color figure can be viewed at wileyonlinelibrary.com]
342 Ash et al.

Fig. 8. Image of dye distribution after injection into the colon.


The radio opaque material is stool within the bowel. When the
needle was removed, fetid odor was noted along with stool at the Fig. 10. Bladder perforation with a Veress needle. Arrow
tip of the needle. Reprinted from Abreo K, Sequeira A. Bowel points to the tip of the needle within the bladder (Courtesy Dr.
Perforation During Peritoneal Dialysis Catheter Placement, with Rasmussen).
permission from Elsevier. [Color figure can be viewed at wileyon-
linelibrary.com]
occurs principally to the side holes of the catheter.
It does not restrict fluid inflow to the peritoneum.
Injection of contrast into the catheter usually shows
what appears to be adequate flow into the sur-
rounding peritoneum (Fig. 12, Video S12). Occa-
sionally, however, the catheter is in a truly
restricted pocket of peritoneal space from which
freeing the catheter is difficult or impossible by any
radiologic procedure (further discussed below).
The most popular method of repositioning PD
catheters is by fluoroscopy, using a long guide wire
to bring the catheter into the anterior peritoneal
space. When a long, flexible guidewire is advanced
into the coiled or straight Tenckhoff catheter, the
guidewire eventually forms a loop that can only fit
in the anterior peritoneal space. For coiled Tenck-
hoff catheters, it is necessary to assure that the tip
of the guidewire follows the entire 540-degree spiral
of the coil and does not exit through a side-hole
(Fig. 13). For “arcuate” catheters, some straighten-
ing of the catheter is needed in order to get a stiff
Fig. 9. Images obtained by dye injection into a peritoneal dial-
ysis catheter in the small bowel (Courtesy Dr. Rasmussen).
guidewire to move into the body of the catheter.
When the guidewire is advanced far enough to form
a large coil, the catheter tip is usually freed from
omental attachments and brought into the anterior
Repositioning and Replacing Peritoneal peritoneal space. When the guidewire is removed,
Dialysis Catheters the catheter will usually remain in this position
though it may not coil to a natural position
Although persisting infection is the main reason (Fig. 14). The catheter will often be freed from
for PD catheter failure and removal, outflow failure omental attachment by this reposition technique
is the second most common reason. When a cathe- (but not always). Injection of contrast into the
ter has outflow failure and has migrated to a new catheter after placement will demonstrate free egress
position in the abdomen, omental attachment is the of the contrast with extension from the catheter
most likely cause (Fig. 11). Omental attachment quickly (Video S13).
IMAGING AND PERITONEAL DIALYSIS CATHETERS 343

Fig. 11. Coiled Tenckhoff catheter migrated out of the pelvis.


Fig. 13. Wire manipulation of coiled Tenckhoff catheter with
outflow failure, taking care to manipulate the wire through the
entire 540 degrees of the catheter.

upper quadrant pain on fluid infusion. The perito-


neogram indicated that the catheter had migrated
to the left upper quadrant and was again encapsu-
lated in a flat space (Fig. 15B). It was decided not
to try to manipulate the catheter with guidewire. A
new catheter was placed by peritoneoscopy on the
right side of the abdomen. The old catheter was
removed. One year later, the patient had right
upper quadrant pain and outflow failure. Perito-
neogram again indicated a restricted space, with
the catheter trapped against the liver (Fig. 15C). It
was decided to discontinue PD and the patient was
transferred to hemodialysis.
Another option for dealing with a catheter suffer-
ing outflow failure is to replace the catheter with a
new catheter using the same site for the deep cuff
Fig. 12. Peritoneogram through a peritoneal dialysis catheter and peritoneal entry. This is done by placing a
with omental entrapment. Dense collection of contrast around guidewire into the old catheter, removing the old
the catheter with mild dispersion into the surrounding catheter over the guidewire, placing a dilator/split-
peritoneum. sheath over the guidewire, and then inserting the
new catheter through the split sheath (Fig. 16). This
method has a high probability of working. It avoids
On the first injection of contrast through a placing the catheter into exactly the same track as
catheter with outflow failure and migration, the
contrast sometimes delineates a completely isolated
space, as confirmed by injecting the contrast and
then inspecting the image at least 15 seconds later.
Usually a sheet of omentum that “plasters” the
catheter against the parietal peritoneum causes
this. In one patient, outflow failure occurred about
1 year after catheter placement and the perito-
neogram indicated a restricted space just above the
bladder (Fig. 15A). In this patient, the catheter
was freed from adhesions with laparoscopy and
large amounts of omentum were seen, but there
was no omentectomy. About a year later, the Fig. 14. Migrated Straight Tenckhoff catheter (A) repositioned
patient had outflow failure associated with left successfully using a guidewire (B).
344 Ash et al.

Fig. 15. (A) Peritoneogram through peritoneal dialysis catheter that had outflow failure 1 year after placement. Catheter was reposi-
tioned laparoscopically, no omentectomy was performed. (B) Approximately 1 year later, again having outflow failure. Arrow shows tip
of the catheter above the pelvic inlet. Reposition by guidewire was not attempted. New catheter was placed on the right side by perito-
neoscopy with coil in the lower abdomen. (C) Same patient about 1 year later, with outflow failure again. Tip shows catheter in the
right subcostal area. Catheter was removed and patient was transferred to hemodialysis.

the previous catheter because the sheath can be into the mass of omentum and bowels and the tip is
directed in a different direction once the guidewire not visible (Fig. 18A). The tip of the Y-Tec scope
is removed. The deep cuff bonds to surrounding can be advanced under the catheter body and the
fibrous tissue in about the same time as a cuff scope rotated to put traction on the catheter. If the
would in a new position. catheter is immovable, then it almost certainly has
A final option for dealing with outflow failure is omental attachment. In some failed catheters, there
to plan to place a new catheter and then remove the is a thin layer of omentum over the body of the
old one. The new catheter should preferably be catheter (Fig. 18B). In others, the catheter is “plas-
placed on the opposite side of the abdomen through tered” against the parietal peritoneum by a thin
the medial or lateral border of the rectus sheath. If layer of omentum (Fig. 18C). The new catheter is
the placement of the catheter is performed by peri- placed through the spiral guide around the needle-
toneoscopy, then there is an extra advantage that scope cannula, and the failed catheter is then
the old catheter can be visualized during the proce- removed. Often a variety of adhesions are seen
dure. After creating a pneumoperitoneum and view- within the peritoneum, sometimes even in patients
ing through the scope, the peritoneal entry site of without prior surgery (Fig. 19). Occasionally, the
the catheter is first located. Inspection confirms that peritoneoscopic evaluation of a failed PD catheter
the cuff of the failed catheter is extraperitoneal, and indicates no omental attachment and proper posi-
whether there are adhesions to the site of entry tion of the catheter in the anterior peritoneal space.
(Fig. 17). The body of the catheter is then inspected In this case, the outflow failure is entirely “func-
to determine whether the tip of the catheter is lying tional” such as due to constipation or merely exces-
within the anterior peritoneal space. Catheters with sive omental fat. In these cases, there is no reason
outflow failure and migration usually appear to dive to place a new catheter.

Fig. 16. Fluoroscopic images of dysfunctional peritoneal dialysis catheter before, during, and after salvage.
IMAGING AND PERITONEAL DIALYSIS CATHETERS 345
areas of medicine, ultrasound imaging offers consid-
erably more detailed information.
Figure 20 includes a number of ultrasonic images
of various portions of normal and abnormal PD
catheters. The normal appearance of the cross-sec-
tion of a PD catheter within the subcutaneous tun-
nel has two circular lines, indicating each inner and
outer surface (Fig. 20A). The appearance of the PD
catheter subcutaneous tunnel when there is fluid
around the catheter is of an irregular anechoic
space. The catheter surfaces are no longer visible
Fig. 17. Views of the parietal peritoneum and deep cuff of a
within the fluid (Fig. 20B).
peritoneal dialysis catheter taken through the Y-TecTM peritoneo-
scope during placement of a new peritoneal dialysis catheter. (A)
The normal appearance of the superficial cuff of
Appearance of the normal deep cuff (arrow). (B) Thin omental a PD catheter is similar to a rib bone shadow.
adhesion to the site of the deep cuff (arrow). [Color figure can be Due to the density of normal fibrous ingrowth to
viewed at wileyonlinelibrary.com] the cuff, ultrasound waves do not penetrate the
cuff. The result is shadowing or a loss of imaging
on the opposite side of the cuff, and there is no
Ultrasound Examination of Existing PD visibility of the cuff material (Fig. 20C). When
Catheters there is fluid around a cuff, the cuff outline is
accentuated because the fluid around the cuff pro-
There are reliable physical signs of most problems vides a different density from the cuff. This creates
relating to PD catheters, especially those in the sub- the “Signet Ring” sign (Fig. 20D). The ultrasonic
cutaneous tunnel and cuffs. However, as in other image of a normal subcutaneous tunnel and

Fig. 18. (A) Appearance of catheters with outflow failure and migration through the Y-Tec scope. The most common finding is that
the catheter dives down into the omentum, and it is immovable by mild pressure of the tip of the scope. (B) Sometimes the catheter is
covered by a thin layer of omentum, making the side-holes invisible. (C) Sometimes the catheter is held against the parietal peritoneum
by a thin layer of omentum (right). [Color figure can be viewed at wileyonlinelibrary.com]

Fig. 19. (A) Normal parietal peritoneum (below) and visceral peritoneum as seen through the Needlescope. (B) Broad midline adhe-
sion from prior midline incision of an uncomplicated surgery. (C) Broad omental adhesion to anterior parietal peritoneum after fungal
peritonitis. (D) Wispy adhesions sometimes seen in patients without prior abdominal surgery. [Color figure can be viewed at wileyonline-
library.com]
346 Ash et al.

Fig. 20. Ultrasound appearance of various components of peritoneal dialysis catheters. (A) Normal appearance of catheter in the sub-
cutaneous tunnel, when the plane of ultrasound is perpendicular to the catheter. Note lack of shadowing, and four curved lines indicat-
ing inner and outer surfaces of the silicone catheter. (B) Appearance of subcutaneous tunnel with fluid around the catheter. Note that
the catheter surfaces are no longer visible within the fluid. (C) Normal appearance of the superficial cuff of a PD catheter. Note shadow-
ing of the cuff and tissues below and no visibility of the cuff material. (D) Appearance of a cuff with fluid around it, with visibility of
cuff material creating the “Signet Ring” sign. (E) Normal subcutaneous tunnel and catheter in longitudinal view. (F) A subcutaneous
tunnel and catheter which seem to disappear at one point. Catheter is kinked turns downward towards the rectus at this point. (G) Deep
cuff within rectus muscle. Note shadowing below the cuff. [Color figure can be viewed at wileyonlinelibrary.com]

catheter, seen in longitudinal view, presents four decision about whether the hernia must be repaired
linear lines (Fig. 20E). If there is a kink in a for the patient to remain on PD.
catheter, the longitudinal view of the catheter has With imaging techniques such as fluoroscopy,
a portion that seems to disappear (Fig. 20F). The ultrasound and peritoneoscopy, PD catheter place-
normal picture of the deep cuff within rectus mus- ment can be performed safely and effectively by
cle is also a dark area with posterior shadowing interventional techniques. This avoids the need for
(Fig. 20G). The deep cuff is not as clearly seen as general anesthesia and surgical suites, makes the
the superficial cuff, since it is much deeper. If there procedure more timely, and expands the option of
is fluid around the cuff, there is an irregular black PD to many more patients.
shape around the site of the cuff. As with fluid
around the catheter in the tunnel or the superficial
cuff, this indicates pericatheter fluid leak or infec- References
tion.
Ultrasonic imaging is also helpful in the evalua- 1. Sigel B, Golub RM, Loiacono LA, Parsons RE, Kodama I, Machi J,
et al.: Technique of ultrasonic detection and mapping of abdominal
tion of abdominal hernias, whether spontaneous or wall adhesions. Surg Endosc 5:161–165, 1991
caused by prior surgery or forming around the cuff 2. Abreo K, Sequeira A: Bowel perforation during peritoneal dialysis
catheter placement. Am J Kidney Dis 68:312–315, 2016
(as caused by prior cuff loosening and outward
migration). Using ultrasound, the physician can
determine the size of the hernia, whether there are
bowel loops included, and the size and shape of the Supporting Information
opening to the peritoneum. Repeat evaluations and
printed images help to indicate whether the hernia Additional Supporting Information may be found
is enlarging. All of these factors relate to the in the online version of this article:

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