# Indwelling peritoneal catheters for malignant ascites (PeritX, Rocket, Aspira, Passio)

Source: https://onco.cc/technologies/indwelling-peritoneal-catheters/  
OnCo record `indwelling-peritoneal-catheters` (Technology). Data CC BY-NC 4.0, attribute "Data from OnCo (onco.cc)"; commercial use needs a licence.

## TL;DR

A tube tunnelled into the tummy so fluid that builds up because of cancer can be drained at home in small amounts, instead of coming into hospital for a large drain each time.

## Summary

NICE recommends "The PeritX system ... as an option for drainage of treatment-resistant, recurrent malignant peritoneal ascites" (HTG282, formerly MTG9, published 21 March 2012, updated 19 July 2022), estimating a saving of £1,095 per person against inpatient large-volume paracentesis. In the United States these are product code PNG (peritoneal drainage catheter for refractory ascites, long-term indwelling). PeritX (Bard Peripheral Vascular, K241946, 6 December 2024) is indicated for "intermittent, long-term drainage of symptomatic, recurrent, malignant and nonmalignant ascites that does not respond to medical management of the underlying disease". Rocket Medical's peritoneal catheter (K162457, 14 November 2016), Merit Medical's Aspira peritoneal system (K212675, 14 December 2021) and Bearpac's Passio (K230319, 24 November 2023) are cleared under the same code.

## Fields

- Kind: Technology
- Status: standard-of-care
- Last checked: 2026-11-04
- Also known as: Indwelling peritoneal catheter; Tunnelled peritoneal catheter; PeritX; Ascites drain; Rocket peritoneal catheter
- Tags: devices-gaps-2026-11
- Principle: A cuffed silicone catheter is tunnelled into the peritoneal cavity with a valved external end; vacuum bottles or a pump drain a set volume at home every few days.
- Since: 2016
- Strengths: Recommended by NICE for treatment-resistant malignant ascites; Avoids repeated hospital drainage
- Limitations: Infection and catheter blockage; Protein and fluid loss with frequent drainage

## Sources

- NICE HTG282: PeritX peritoneal catheter drainage system for malignant ascites: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/htg282
- FDA product code PNG: long-term indwelling peritoneal drainage catheter: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfPCD/classification.cfm?ID=PNG
- FDA 510(k) K241946: PeritX peritoneal catheter system (6 December 2024): https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfpmn/pmn.cfm?ID=K241946
- FDA 510(k) K162457: Rocket indwelling peritoneal catheter kit (14 November 2016): https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfpmn/pmn.cfm?ID=K162457
- FDA 510(k) K212675: Aspira peritoneal drainage system (14 December 2021): https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfpmn/pmn.cfm?ID=K212675
- FDA 510(k) K230319: Passio pump drainage system, peritoneal (24 November 2023): https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfpmn/pmn.cfm?ID=K230319

## Connected records

- cancers: [Colorectal cancer](https://onco.cc/cancers/colorectal/), [Gastric & gastro-oesophageal junction cancer](https://onco.cc/cancers/gastric/), [Ovarian cancer](https://onco.cc/cancers/ovarian/), [Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma](https://onco.cc/cancers/pancreatic/)
- fronts: [Devices & Physical Therapies](https://onco.cc/fronts/devices/), [Supportive Care & Survivorship](https://onco.cc/fronts/supportive-care/)
- technologies: [Early integrated palliative care](https://onco.cc/technologies/palliative-care/), [Indwelling pleural catheters for malignant pleural effusion (PleurX, Rocket, Aspira, Passio)](https://onco.cc/technologies/indwelling-pleural-catheters/), [Pleural and peritoneal shunts (Denver shunts, ACES)](https://onco.cc/technologies/pleural-and-peritoneal-shunts/)
- companies: [BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company)](https://onco.cc/companies/becton-dickinson/)
- terms: [Malignant pleural effusion and ascites](https://onco.cc/terms/pleural-effusion/), [Symptom control in advanced gallbladder cancer: pain, ascites and nutrition](https://onco.cc/terms/gallbladder-cancer-symptom-control/)

---
JSON: https://onco.cc/api/v1/entities/indwelling-peritoneal-catheters.json