One hundred-and-ten consecutive surgically implanted one-cuff straight peritoneal dialysis catheters in 103 adult patients over a 7 year period have been reviewed. All catheters were placed for chronic dialysis (CAPD). There were no early failures. Early complications consisted of one leak, 14 migrations, and two wound infections. In the long term 15 patients required transfer to haemodialysis (5 recurrent peritonitis, 7 unable to cope, 3 inadequacy of dialysis). Overall probability of catheter survival was 92.4% at 1 year and 82.4% at 2 years. The surgical implantation technique described provides a safe, reliable access for peritoneal dialysis with a low complication rate.