Multicenter analysis on the impact of nephrologist-initiated catheter insertion program on peritoneal dialysis penetration

The demands for timely catheter insertion have spurred the growth of peritoneoscopic catheter insertion program by nephrologists in Malaysia. We performed a multicenter analysis to study its impact on the growth of peritoneal dialysis (PD) population. Data were collected retrospectively from five centers at the point of program initiation until December 2009. In Center 1, with this program, PD population continued to grow from 25 patients in 2006 to 120 in 2009. In center 2, the program began in 2005, but comprised only 28.6% of total insertions. From 2007 onwards, nephrologists had overtaken the surgeon, inserting from 85% to 97% of the total insertions. In center 3, with the program at its infancy, a modest growth in its PD population was shown. In center 4, nephrologists maintained an annual average of 41.8% of total catheter insertions, and thus maintaining a stable PD population. In center 5, surgeon-assisted PD catheter insertions helped to maintain the growth of its PD, seeing lesser impact from this program. Subanalysis showed that 1-year catheter survival in Center 1 was 85.4%. This study on PD catheter insertion program by nephrologists showed the greatest impact on new center and center experiencing suboptimal catheter insertions by traditional providers.