Clotting on the outer surfaces of vascular catheters.

TLDR: The purpose of this work was to investigate the rate of clotting on the surface of various catheters and to find possible means of prevention.

Abstract: Thrombotic and embolic accidents are serious complications of vascular catheterizations Some of these complications are caused by the stripping of clot from the surface of the catheters as these catheters are withdrawn through the holes in the vascular walls (Fig 1) The purpose of this work was to investigate the rate of clotting on the surface of various catheters and to find possible means of prevention The catheters studied were those commonly employed in clinical catheterization, namely nonradiopaque polyethylene, nonradiopaque Teflon, radiopaque polyethylene of Swedish manufacture, radiopaque polyethylene of American manufacture, radiopaque Teflon, woven Rodriguez Alvarez coated with a “special compound,” woven directable Cordis catheters (probably covered with polyurethane), and Silastic medical grade tubing All catheters were No 7 French Technic Under general anesthesia, the carotids and the jugular veins of large dogs were isolated as far as possible toward the head and toward the chest On