We believe that by focusing on the Peritoneal Dialysis catheter and its implantation, patients’ quality of life is improved and the entire Peritoneal Dialysis process is made easier

The Y-TEC System for PD Catheter Implantation

The Y-TEC System: Peritoneoscopic and Laparoscopic Summation


The Y-TEC system is a well-established system of reusable instruments, disposable pacs and knowledge to implant PD catheters quickly, easily, accurately, consistently and in most ESRD patients.

The Y-TEC system has two versions for planting PD catheters. The original and first was designed for interventional nephrologists and is called the peritoneoscopic method.  There are primarily three distinguishing features about the peritoneoscopic approach.

  1. The abdominal wall is not cut but punctured with a custom-designed cannula and Quill Guide attached to it. The Quill Guide and, therefore the abdominal wall, is subsequently dilated to the same diameter of the catheter.
  2. The Y-TEC Peritoneoscope - a special, small diameter (2.2 mm) endoscope - is passed through the same cannula into the abdomen.  The abdomen is then examined to determine the best location for the catheter.
  3. The technique is usually done under local anesthesia.

The second Y-TEC version is designed for surgeons and is called the laparoscopic approach. There are predominantly four distinguishing features about this approach.

  1. It usually a done under general or regional anesthesia.
  2. The surgeon uses his own laparoscope, and places it in the patient via the umbilicus
  3. The surgeon reviews at that abdomen with his scope to determine the best location or the catheter.  A corollary feature is that if excessive adhesions and/or omentum are found, it is easy to perform adhesiolysis and/or omentopexy at that time.
  4. The abdominal wall is punctured with a custom-designed cannula and Quill Guide attached to it. The Quill Guide and, therefore the abdominal wall, is subsequently dilated to the same diameter of the catheter.

Since 1983, there have been over thrity studies and reports published in multiple peer-reviewed journals by a wide range of authors about the Y-TEC procedure.  Whether the article is a review or report or a more sophisticated randomized, prospective study, they all reported consistently similar outcomes:

  • Immediate success rate: 95%-98%
  • Leaks: 0%-1%
  • Outflow problems: 3%-4%
  • Infections: 2%-5%
  • Long term survival: 70%-80%

Not only are outcomes more consistent, the Y-TEC procedure takes only about 15 - 20 minutes to perform.  The nephrologist can do the procedure under local anesthesia in a procedure room or ambulatory surgery center.   A surgeon also has the same options as the nephrologist, plus he can use regional or general anesthesia in the OR.

The Y-TEC procedure is a fast, safe, cost-effective and yet simple method of PD Catheter Implantation.  The Y-TEC procedure consistently yields excellent results, little post operative complications, immediate use with minimal leaks, reduced infections and outflow obstructions and, equally as important, it has very good patient acceptance.