Evaluation and management of impaired peritoneal dialysis catheter flow

* Dialysate leakage can cause incomplete recovery of infused dialysate, as can occur with some causes of outflow problems. Patients with a dialysate leak do not require further evaluation for flow impairment; rather, efforts should focus on identifying and managing the leak.

¶ Catheter flow should be rechecked after a bowel movement. Refer to UpToDate content on noninfectious complications of peritoneal dialysis catheters for details about treatment of constipation in this setting.

Δ Patients with fibrin clot may have partial or complete bidirectional obstruction to flow, preceded by or in conjunction with plugs or strands of fibrin observed in drained dialysate.

◊ Refer to UpToDate content on noninfectious complications of peritoneal dialysis catheters for the approach to treatment of fibrin clot.