objective To compare the technical survival between Tenckhoff double-cuffed straight catheter (TC)and swan-neck curled tip catheter (SNC) in peritoneal dialysis (PD). Methods Clinical data of 208 patients received PD in the Peritoneal Dialysis Center of Peking Union Medical College Hospital from January 1999 to December 2007 were analyzed retrospectively. All the patients were divided into two groups according to indwelling catheter. Technical survival and complications associated with the catheter between two groups were compared. Results Demographics and basic information were similar in both groups. The exit-site infection (ESI) rates of TC and SNC were 22.1% and 19.8% (P=0.786), and peritonitis rates of TC and SNC were 31.1% and 22.1% (P=0.159), which were slightly lower in SNC group, but the difference was not significant. Removal of the catheter was found in 27 (13.0%)patients, including 17 cases in TC group (13.9%) and 10 cases in SNC group (11.6%)(P=0.680).The median survival times of catheter in TC group and SNC group were 25 months and 22 months respectively without significant difference (P=0.103). Conclusions There are no significant differences of ESI rate, peritonitis rate and catheter survival between these two catheters in PD. The expensive swan-neck catheter offers no additional advantage. Doctors should choose the catheter according to the economic status of patients.