Secondary embedding of a peritoneal dialysis (PD) catheter has been performed for patients whose kidney function has improved enough to stop dialysis but recovery is not expected to be long term. In addition, we have also performed the procedure for patients who have poor general condition due to severe cerebrovascular and/or cardiac disease or who wish to have PD again at the end of life. Here, we report the case of the first terminal haemodialysis (HD) patient who resumed PD using a secondarily embedded catheter as an end-of-life choice. The patient had undergone secondary embedding of a PD catheter and had been transferred to HD, during which time multiple pulmonary metastases of thyroid cancer were observed. She hoped to resume PD in the end-of-life period, and the catheter was subsequently externalised. The catheter was used immediately, and the patient has continued on PD over the past 1 month without infectious or mechanical complications. For elderly end-stage kidney disease patients with progressive disease and cancer, secondary embedding of the PD catheter may be an option to permit them to live the remainder of their lives at home.
Keywords: End of life; peritoneal dialysis catheter; resumption; secondary embedding.