When your peritoneal dialysis catheter stops draining properly, every hour matters. A malfunctioning catheter means missed dialysis sessions, fluid buildup, and the risk of needing temporary hemodialysis while the problem is resolved.
Soris Pain & Vascular Institute performs PD catheter exchange to replace failing catheters and restore home dialysis function. Our physicians remove the old catheter and place a new one in a single outpatient visit.
Soris Pain & Vascular Institute
A peritoneal dialysis (PD) catheter exchange is a procedure that removes a malfunctioning or displaced Tenckhoff catheter and replaces it with a new one in the same operative session. The replacement catheter is repositioned in the peritoneal cavity under image guidance to restore drainage function.
Whenever possible, the catheter is replaced through the existing access site, helping minimize additional tissue trauma. X-ray guidance is used to confirm that the catheter is in the correct position before the procedure is completed.
Soris Pain & Vascular Institute schedules catheter exchanges promptly to reduce the time patients spend on temporary hemodialysis or with a malfunctioning PD catheter.
Procedure
The clinical team at Soris Pain & Vascular Institute evaluates the catheter problem through imaging and a physical examination at our outpatient centers. Our physicians determine whether the catheter can be salvaged or requires exchange.
The procedure is performed under local anesthesia, with sedation available if needed. The surgeon removes the existing catheter, irrigates the tunnel tract, and places the replacement catheter through the same or an adjacent entry site.
Fluoroscopy verifies correct tip position. The procedure typically takes 45 to 60 minutes.
Patients return home the same day. Soris Pain & Vascular Institute coordinates with your nephrologist and dialysis center to resume peritoneal dialysis within one to two weeks after the exchange.
Benefits
The old catheter comes out and the new one goes in during the same procedure. This eliminates the gap between removal and re-insertion that would otherwise require temporary hemodialysis.
Fluoroscopic guidance reduces the risk of catheter malposition. Our physicians at Soris Pain & Vascular Institute confirm tip placement before you leave the office.
No overnight hospital stay. The procedure takes place in an outpatient setting, reducing cost and scheduling delays for dialysis-dependent patients.
Conditions Requiring PD Catheter Exchange
If the catheter tip moves out of position, it may not drain properly and dialysis may become less effective. Replacing the catheter can restore proper function.
Fibrin deposits or omental tissue can obstruct the catheter lumen. When flushing and repositioning fail, exchange replaces the compromised catheter.
Patients who are leaving peritoneal dialysis rather than continuing on it are managed through PD Catheter Removal instead.
Collaboration
Our physicians perform PD catheter exchanges at Soris Pain & Vascular Institute. The care team coordinates with referring nephrologists to minimize disruption to your dialysis schedule.
FAQ
Most patients resume PD within one to two weeks. Soris Pain & Vascular Institute coordinates the timeline with your nephrologist.
Depending on your fluid status and timeline, temporary hemodialysis may be recommended for the healing period. The clinical team plans this in advance.
Most plans cover the exchange when medical necessity is documented. Our office staff verifies coverage before scheduling.
Board-certified physicians bringing hospital-level, minimally invasive interventional procedures to outpatient centers.
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