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[25-year experience with reusable heart catheters]
R Buchwalsky1, R Grove, E Feldkamp
1Schüchtermann-Klinik, Klinik für Herz- und Gefässerkrankungen Kardiologie, Herzchirurgie, Rehabilitation Ulmenallee 11 49214 Bad Rothenfelde, Germany.
Insights
Cardiac catheter reuse is safe and cost-effective. Over 25 years and nearly 100,000 procedures, reused cardiac catheters showed no increase in complications or patient risks compared to single-use devices.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Medical Device Reprocessing
Background:
- Cardiac catheter reuse has been practiced for 25 years in hospitals for cardiovascular interventions.
- Initially performed in-house, reprocessing is now handled by specialized companies using standardized, validated procedures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report on the safety and efficacy of reused cardiac catheters based on extensive clinical experience.
- To evaluate the impact of reused catheters on patient safety and procedural outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of nearly 100,000 interventions utilizing various types of cardiac catheters (diagnostic, interventional, electrophysiology).
- Comparison of outcomes between procedures using reused catheters and those using single-use catheters.
- Patient consent obtained for the use of reused devices.
Main Results:
- No significant differences observed in intervention duration, X-ray exposure, contrast media consumption, or catheter change rates.
- Catheter-dependent complication rates were comparable between reused and single-use cardiac catheters.
- Patient safety was not compromised by the use of reprocessed catheters.
Conclusions:
- Cardiac catheter reuse is a safe practice that does not negatively impact patient outcomes.
- Reprocessing and reuse of cardiac catheters represent a significant cost-saving strategy for healthcare institutions.
Abstract:
For 25 years, cardiac catheters have been prepared for reuse in a hospital for heart and vessel diseases, in the beginning by the hospital itself, later on by a specialized company with a standardize, validated certified procedure. Experiences with almost 100,000 interventions with flow directed catheters, diagnostic left-heart- and angiography-catheters, balloon- and electrophysiology-catheters, which were performed with reused material in more than half of these cases, are reported. All patients were informed that disposable catheters were reused. Neither the duration of the intervention, the x-ray load for the patient, the consumption of contrast media and the change rate of catheters, nor the catheter dependent complication rates were increased for reused catheters in comparison to single use. Therefore the reuse of cardiac catheters does not affect patients' safety, but is a cost-saving strategy.