Manipulation of the Tenckhoff catheter under fluoroscopic guidance is a useful procedure in patients who undergo chronic ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). We reviewed 50 manipulations in 28 patients. There were no significant complications attributable to the procedure. Ten per cent of the manipulations were performed for visceral pain, 40% for malfunction within the first two weeks of catheter placement, and the remaining 50% for malfunction after two weeks of adequate dialysate flow. Overall, an initial success rate of 88% was recorded, and, after long term study, a durable success rate of 58% was demonstrated. Early malfunction (i.e., within the first two weeks) is a more ominous prognostic indicator than previously realized, with only 30% of these manipulations ultimately succeeding vs. 60% of manipulations in late onset catheter failure. Nevertheless, at least one attempt is warranted in manipulation of a malfunctioning Tenckhoff catheter.

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Nine cases of proven juxtaglomerular tumor of the kidney are reviewed. Each patient presented with hypertension; elevated peripheral renin levels were found in four patients. As in past studies, this tumor occurred more frequently in women (7/9 cases). Although the patients tended to be younger (mean age, 31 years) than those with essential hypertension, all but two patients were more than 20 years of age. In all cases, the tumor was solitary, well-defined, and curable by surgery. The tumor was identified by excretory urography in 5/8 patients who underwent this procedure. A solid renal mass was detected in each of the seven patients examined by ultrasound. Since the tumor tends to be isodense with normal renal parenchyma, it is sometimes not seen on computed tomography without intravenous contrast material. Arteriography revealed a hypovascular mass in each of the nine patients. The combination of a hypovascular solid renal mass in a patient with elevated renin but no renal artery lesions should suggest the diagnosis of a juxtaglomerular cell tumor.

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