We reviewed the incidence and risk factors for complications after insertion of permanent catheters for peritoneal dialysis (PD). We implanted 192 peritoneal catheters in 137 patients over ten years. Fifty-three complications were observed in 50 catheters (27.6%) implanted in 42 patients (30.6%): malposition or omental entrapment (13%), dialysate leak (8.9%), hemoperitoneum (3.6%), peritonitis (1%), surgical wound infection (0.5%), and chylous ascites (0.5%). The only significant risk factors for a complicated insertion were previous abdominal surgery, particularly if it affected the peritoneal membrane, and early use of the catheter after implantation (< 5 days), independent of surgical or closed insertion.