Abstract: FR-PO1073
Outcomes Associated with Embedded Peritoneal Dialysis Catheters
Session Information
- Home Dialysis: Modalities, Barriers, Utilization, and Clinical Outcomes
October 23, 2026 | Location: Exhibit Hall A, Convention Center
Abstract Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Category: Dialysis
- 802 Dialysis: Home Dialysis and Peritoneal Dialysis
Authors
- Weinhandl, Eric D., DaVita Inc, Denver, Colorado, United States
- Shapiro, Mark H., DaVita Inc, Denver, Colorado, United States
- del Rosario, Maria B., DaVita Inc, Denver, Colorado, United States
- Cassin, Michelle, DaVita Inc, Denver, Colorado, United States
- Naljayan, Mihran V., DaVita Inc, Denver, Colorado, United States
- Brunelli, Steven M., DaVita Inc, Denver, Colorado, United States
- Tentori, Francesca, DaVita Inc, Denver, Colorado, United States
Background
An embedded PD catheter is placed preemptively while a patient has non-dialysis dependent chronic kidney disease (NDD-CKD), thus facilitating urgent initiation of peritoneal dialysis (PD). The catheter is buried in subcutaneous tissue and exteriorized when the need for PD arises. There is little data about clinical outcomes associated with its use. The purpose of this study was to compare outcomes in patients initiating PD after exteriorization of a previously embedded catheter versus those initiating PD after traditional catheter placement.
Methods
Using internal electronic health record data, we identified all PD patients who initiated training for the first time in 2014-2025 with a previously embedded catheter. The cohort comprised two eras, reflecting available data: 2014-2021 (Era 1) and March 2024-Feburary 2025 (Era 2). Exposure in Era 1 was embedded catheter use during the first treatment at home; exposure in Era 2 was embedded catheter use at first PD training initiation. Outcomes included training graduation, peritonitis episodes, conversion to hemodialysis, death, and cumulative hospitalizations. After pooling and stratification by era, and adjustment for demographic characteristics, associations were derived from Cox proportional hazards and Poisson regressions.
Results
We identified 1,040 patients (n=809 patients in Era 1; n=231 patients in Era 2) with a previously embedded catheter. Demographic characteristics of patients with an embedded catheter were typical. In Era 2, average time from catheter placement to PD initiation was 4.2 months and the rate of training graduation was 9% higher in patients with an embedded catheter. Adjusted rates of peritonitis, conversion to HD, and death were similar in patients with and without a previously embedded catheter (Table). The adjusted rate of all-cause hospitalization was 7% lower in patients with an embedded catheter.
Conclusion
Patients who initiated PD with a previously embedded catheter had similar rates of peritonitis, conversion to hemodialysis, and death, relative to those with traditional catheter placement. Training was completed more rapidly, and hospitalizations were modestly less likely.