Professional Documents
Culture Documents
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.
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. 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: