Oxford University Hospitals
NHS Trust
Oxford Kidney Unit
Removal of your Peritoneal
Dialysis (PD) catheter
Information for patients
This information is intended to help you understand how your
PD catheter will be removed. If you require further information
please do not hesitate to contact your PD nurse.
Your PD catheter can be removed in one of two ways. Your
kidney or transplant doctor will discuss with you which method is
best for you.
If you are taking medication such as warfarin or aspirin please
contact the unit for advice 1 week before either of the
procedures.
The two methods are either a ‘PD pull’ or
surgical removal of the PD catheter.
The differences in the procedures are shown below:
PD pull
PD surgical operation
No need for general
anaesthetic and operation.
Need to be fit for an
operation / general
anaesthesia (when you are
made to sleep).
Takes a few minutes.
Procedure takes about 20
minutes, will be in hospital for
4-6 hours.
No interruption to work /
home schedule.
No work for 1 – 2 weeks
(depending on the type of
work you do).
Exit site should have healed in
2 days, no bathing / showers
until completely healed.
Exit site & wound – takes
7-10 days to heal, no bathing
/ showers during this time.
Cuffs (which stop your PD
catheter falling out) are left
inside you.
Cuffs removed at operation.
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Procedure can be carried out
in a clinic room.
Requires theatre admission,
you may need pre op
assessment prior to surgery
(about a week before the
operation).
Cuffs may become infected
at a later date (2 in 100
patients).
Wounds may bleed, become
infected (rare).
Catheter may snap during
procedure (rare).
No heavy lifting for 3 weeks
post operation.
Can be uncomfortable during
procedure.
May be painful after the
procedure.
Can drive after the procedure.
Cannot drive for 2-3 weeks
after the operation.
PD pull - how is the procedure is performed?
After a nurse or doctor has explained the procedure to you, they
will ask you to sign a consent form. We will then ask you to lie
on a couch or bed. Your dressing will be removed and your exit
site inspected (if there is any sign of infection a PD pull is not
recommended). With one hand we will then apply firm pressure
to your tummy around the PD catheter site. Holding the catheter
in the other hand we will pull steadily and firmly on the catheter.
After a few moments the tubing will slide out of your abdomen.
Sometimes the superficial cuff (nearest the exit site) also slides
out of your skin. A dressing is then applied.
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Surgical removal of a PD catheter – how is
this procedure performed?
This is performed using a mini ‘laparotomy’ operation and usually
with a general anaesthesia (you are asleep). A small cut (4-5cm)
is made just below your belly button. The surgeon surgically
removes the catheter and cuffs from the abdominal cavity. The
cut is closed using stitches on the inside. This type of operation is
recommended for infected PD exit sites. The dressing will need to
be replaced weekly until the wound has healed (about 2 weeks).
For surgical removal of your PD catheter you
will need to follow the instructions below
Most patients are admitted to the Day Surgery Unit, which is
found on Main Street in the original Churchill Hospital building.
Please park in car park 5 and enter the building across the road
from the zebra crossing. The Day Surgery Unit is on the left just
before the League of Friends coffee shop.
What time should you get to the Day Surgery
Unit?
• If your operation is in the morning you will need to arrive at
7:30am.
• If your operation is in the afternoon you will need to arrive
at 11:30am.
What happens on the day of the operation?
A nurse, surgeon and anaesthetist will see you before the
operation and you will be asked to sign a consent form. Your
nurse will then take you to theatre. After the operation you will
be taken to the Recovery Unit. When you are fully awake you
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will return back to the Day Surgery Unit. You should be able
to go home 3 – 4 hours after your operation. Most patients go
home the same day. You must have a competent person to stay
with you and take care of you for 24 hours. We do not provide
painkillers to take home so recommend you have a supply of
paracetamol, which can be taken as directed on the packet.
Eating and drinking instructions for surgical
removal of your PD catheter
IF YOU ARE ON THE
MORNING LIST
IF YOU ARE ON THE
AFTERNOON LIST
Nothing to eat from midnight. Nothing to eat after 7:30am.
You can drink (no milk*) up
until 6.30am.
You can drink (no milk*) up
until 11:30am.
Take all blood pressure and
heart medication as normal.
Take all blood pressure and
heart medication as normal.
DIABETIC PATIENTS
DIABETIC PATIENTS
Nothing to eat from midnight. Nothing to eat from midnight.
You can drink (no milk*) up
until 6:30am.
You can drink (no milk*) up
until 11:30am.
EVENING BEFORE, take only
½ of your long acting diabetic
medication.
EVENING BEFORE, take your
usual dose of insulin.
DO NOT take your morning
diabetic tablets or insulin.
Take all blood pressure and
heart medication as normal.
Morning of surgery, take ½
dose of insulin or usual dose
of oral diabetic medication
with a light breakfast.
Take all blood pressure and
heart medication as normal.
Do not eat, chew gum, or suck boiled sweets.
*clear fluid i.e. black tea, black coffee or squash but not juice.
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Items to bring into hospital with you if your
PD catheter is removed surgically
• Medications in their original packaging
• Dressing gown
• A book or magazine
• Overnight bag with nightclothes and toiletries (just in case you
need to stay in hospital overnight). The majority of patients go
home the same day.
Instructions for returning home after both
types of removal of your PD catheter
Type of
procedure /
operation
PD pull
PD surgical
operation
Wound care
There is usually no
bleeding*, there
are no stitches to
be removed.
Temporary
bleeding* and
bruising, there are
no stitches to be
removed.
Bathing
instructions
Leave dressing in
place for 2 days
– no bathing or
showers. Remove
old dressings,
replace with new
ones if required.
Should heal
completely within
4 days.
Leave dressing in
place for 7 days
– no bathing or
showers. Remove
old dressings,
replace with new
ones if required.
Re-check dressings
and wound 5 days
later, should heal
completely within
7 -14 days.
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Pain control
You should be
pain free once
the procedure is
completed.
Take paracetamol
as directed on the
packet.
Driving
Driving – allowed.
Do not drive for
2- 3 weeks after
operation.
Working
No interruption to
work schedule.
Depending on
your type of work
it is best that you
rest for 7-10 days
before going back
to your normal
activities. If your
work is physically
demanding you
may feel you need
a longer time
away from work to
recover fully.
If you experience severe abdominal pain, excessive bleeding*,
or your wound / exit site becomes red / inflamed or painful
contact your PD unit / renal ward immediately.
*Excessive bleeding – if you have applied more than 2
dressings and blood continues to seep through.
Oxford PD unit 01865 225 792
(answer phone) 8:30-6pm
Wycombe PD unit 01494 426 349
Swindon PD unit 01793 605 288
Milton Keynes PD unit 01908 243 273
Renal Ward 01865 225 780
24 hours, includes weekends and bank holidays
Day surgery 01865 225 283/4 (opens at 7:30am)
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If you have any further questions please do not hesitate to contact us
at:
pd.team@ouh.nhs.uk
or Jayne Woodhouse, Advanced Nurse Practitioner in Peritoneal
Dialysis
jayne.woodhouse@ouh.nhs.uk
Tel: 01865 225 792
Churchill Hospital
Oxford Kidney unit
Peritoneal Dialysis unit
Old Road
Headington
Oxford
OX3 7LE
If you need an interpreter or need a document in another
language, large print, Braille or audio version, please call
01865 221473 or email PALSJR@ouh.nhs.uk
Written by Jayne Woodhouse - Advanced Nurse Practitioner in Peritoneal Dialysis
Created April 2013
Review date April 2016
Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust
Oxford OX3 9DU
www.ouh.nhs.uk
OMI 5268P