In our center, a total of 451 peritoneal dialysis catheters were implanted in 424 uremic patients from 1986 to 1999. All catheters were implanted by the percutaneous method of Di Paolo. From 1986 to May 1997 (period A), we inserted 389 catheters using the Weston-Roberts catheter armed with a metallic sharp mandrel for the first access to the peritoneal cavity. After May 1997 (period B), we implanted 62 peritoneal dialysis catheters, replacing the metallic sharp mandrel with the Veress needle to arm the Weston-Roberts catheter. The aim of this retrospective study was to determine the incidence of early complications (within 2 weeks) and to compare the incidence between the two groups (period A versus period B). The results suggest that the incidence of perforation of abdominal organs is lower, but not significantly so, when the Veress needle is used.