Prevalence of peritoneal catheter dysfunction and its association with clinical factors in patients from Southern Mexico: a cross-sectional study

Objective: To describe the prevalence of peritoneal catheter dysfunction in a sample of the population of Southern Mexico, and evaluate its association with constipation, in order to promote preventive strategies. Material and methods: An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted in Campeche, Mexico, from June 2023 to June 2024. We evaluated 191 adult patients with stage 5 chronic kidney disease. Constipation was assessed using the Rome IV criteria, and prevalence ratios (PR) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated. Catheter technical survival was analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method. Results: Of the 191 patients, 100% of the group with constipation experienced catheter dysfunction, compared to 38.8% of the group without. Constipation significantly increased the risk of failure (PR: 2.58; 95% CI: 2.01-3.32; p < 0.001). The median time to catheter failure in exposed patients was 30 days (interquartile range: 15-45). Only 3.3% of the dysfunctions resolved with medical management (laxatives), while 61.3% required surgical intervention for removal and replacement of the peritoneal catheter. Conclusions: Bowel constipation is a major risk factor for peritoneal catheter dysfunction, especially during the first month after placement. Prophylactic management of bowel function is suggested as a strategy to preserve the technical survival of the access.