ISSN:
1437-9813
Keywords:
Children
;
Central venous catheters
;
Polyurethane
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract Previous work suggests significant advantages in the use of polyurethane over silicone in central venous catheters (CVC). We present the first prospective, randomised, controlled trial of a polyurethane CVC, Cuff Cath (Viggo-Spectramed, Swindon, UK), against a silicone CVC, Hickman (Davol, Cranston RI), in children. Forty consecutive patients were randomised into two groups. There was no significant difference in age, sex, weight, nutritional state, preoperative sepsis, venous site, or tunnel length in either group of 20 patients. In the Hickman group, during a total of 2,270 catheter days, mean 113 days (4–321), 3 (15%) were removed because of sepsis and 4 (20%) because of blockage. Four (20%) fell out after a mean of 15 days (4–30) and 2 (10%) fractured. In the Cuff Cath group, during a total of 3,047 catheter days, mean 152 (30–364), 2 (10%) were removed because of sepsis and 1 (5%) because of blockage. None fell out or fractured. This represented a significant (P 〈0.001) reduction in blockage, breakage, and dislodgement. We conclude that polyurethane has significant advantages over silicone as a material for the manufacture of paediatric CVCs.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00178832
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