A new connecting technique in partial replantation of a ruptured peritoneal dialysis catheter.

Peritoneal dialysis catheter ruptures have been managed by immediate removal and subsequent reinsertion of the catheter which inevitably entails interruption in peritoneal dialysis and a need for vascular access. A 36-year-old man on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis complaining of dialysate leakage was found to have a small rupture near the outer cuff of the peritoneal dialysis catheter. Rather than employing the traditional method of exchanging the whole catheter, a partial replantation procedure to salvage the still-functioning conduit was performed. Two peritoneal dialysis adaptors were used to connect the end of the remaining old catheter to a new extraperitoneal segment of a new catheter and a piece of a transfer set to connect the adaptors. A novel, yet simple and safe, means of partial peritoneal dialysis catheter replantation when managing catheter injuries is suggested.

Midodrine versus albumin in the prevention of paracentesis-induced circulatory dysfunction in cirrhotics: a randomized pilot study.

OBJECTIVES: Intravenous albumin has been used to prevent paracentesis-induced circulatory dysfunction (PICD) in cirrhotics; however, its use is costly and controversial. Splanchnic arterial vasodilatation is primarily responsible for PICD. There are no reports of use of midodrine in the prevention of PICD. In this pilot study, we evaluated midodrine and albumin in the prevention of PICD. METHODS: Forty patients with cirrhosis underwent therapeutic paracentesis with midodrine or albumin in a randomized controlled trial at a tertiary center. Effective arterial blood volume was assessed by plasma renin activity. RESULTS: Plasma renin activity at baseline and at 6 days after paracentesis did not differ in the two groups (43.18 +/- 10.73 to 45.90 +/- 8.59 ng/mL/h, P= 0.273 in the albumin group and 44.44 +/- 8.44 to 41.39 +/- 10.21 ng/mL/h, P= 0.115 in the midodrine group). Two patients had an increase in plasma renin activity of more than 50% from baseline in the albumin group, and none in the midodrine group. A significant increase in 24-h urine volume and urine sodium excretion was noted in the midodrine group. Midodrine therapy was cheaper than albumin therapy. CONCLUSIONS: The study suggests that midodrine may be as effective as albumin in preventing PICD in cirrhotics, but at a fraction of the cost, and can be administered orally. Midodrine also resulted in an increase in 24-h urine volume and sodium excretion.