Peritoneal dialysis related non-infectious complications: A single-center experience over 20 years

Non-infectious complications of peritoneal dialysis (NICPD) are common and could be an important cause of technical failure, especially in the early period of peritoneal dialysis (PD) initiation. NICPD are also center- and provider-dependent. This study aimed to investigate the frequency, etiology, and associated outcomes of NICPD in a single center over a period of 20 years. Data were retrospectively collected in 262 patients who were initiated on PD between April 2001 and April 2021. Inclusion criteria were age 18 years or older and a minimum follow-up period of 3 months. Patients were grouped according to the reason of NICPD: catheter-related, increased intra-abdominal pressure-related, metabolic, and other complications. There were 142 females and 120 males in the study, with a mean age of 44 ± 16.9 years. The mean time on PD was 52.6 ± 40 months. During the follow-up period, 185 (71%) patients experienced 382 NICPD episodes. 26 patients (9.9%) were switched to maintenance hemodialysis (HD) due to NICPD. Outflow failure was the most common NICPD (n = 97). It was also the most common reason for catheter revision (n = 23) and PD discontinuation (n = 12). Catheter intervention was required in 32 patients (12.2%). Prior HD treatment and male gender were independent risk factors for NICPD and catheter-related complications (OR 2.076; p = 0.037; OR: 1.797, p = 0.042, respectively). Early-start PD was associated with a lower risk for NICPD development (OR: 0.393, p = 0.013). In this select cohort of PD patients, we found that NICPD are common and outflow failure is the most common cause of NICPD. NICPD are associated with major complications requiring catheter removal or transfer to in-center HD. Early recognition and appropriate management of NICPD are essential to prolonging time on PD in end-stage renal disease patients.