Continuous quality improvement has reduced the incidence of peritoneal dialysis catheter migration and plugging

Objective: To reduce the incidence of peritoneal dialysis(PD) catheter dysfunction caused by catheter migration or plugging through a continuous quality improvement(CQI) process.Methods: Two hundred fifty-six patients with catheters inserted(from 2002 to 2007) before CQI,and another 302 patients with catheters inserted(from 2008 to 2011) after CQI were observed and analyzed.The possible causes of catheter migration or plugging were summarized,and,on the basis of this,a PDCA four-step(plan,do,check and act) method was designed with a view to reducing the incidence of migration or catheter plugging.Results: PD catheter dysfunction caused by catheter migration or plugging was significantly reduced from 5.9% to 2.3% of catheters placed.Conclusion: The CQI is a useful method to reduce the incidence of catheter dysfunction in peritoneal dialysis.