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Strength of continuous spinal catheters.

S J Ley¹, B R Jones

¹Department of Anesthesiology, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis.

Anesthesia and Analgesia

|October 1, 1991

Summary

Continuous spinal catheters may break during removal, posing risks. This study found their break strength is significantly lower than typical epidural catheters, highlighting potential safety concerns.

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Area of Science:

Medical Devices
Neurosurgery
Anesthesiology

Background:

Continuous spinal catheters are used for intrathecal drug delivery.
Previous reports indicate retained catheter fragments after removal.
Catheter integrity is crucial for patient safety during removal.

Purpose of the Study:

To measure and compare the break strength of various commercially available continuous spinal catheters.
To assess the risk of catheter fragmentation during removal procedures.
To provide data for manufacturers and clinicians regarding catheter durability.

Main Methods:

Five commercially available continuous spinal catheters were tested for break strength.
Break strength was measured in pounds (lb) required to fracture each catheter.
Data were compared to manufacturer specifications and to a commonly used epidural catheter.

Main Results:

Break strength varied among catheters, with TFX/Rusch 28-gauge at 3.18 lb and 32-gauge at 1.92 lb.
Kendall 28-gauge, Preferred Medical Products 24-gauge, and Burron 24-gauge averaged 1.22, 1.97, and 3.55 lb, respectively.
A Burron 20-gauge epidural catheter showed a higher break strength of 6.35 lb.

Conclusions:

The break strength of tested spinal catheters was lower than manufacturer-reported values.
Continuous spinal catheters exhibit one-third to one-half the break strength of typical epidural catheters.
These findings suggest a potential risk of fragmentation for continuous spinal catheters during removal.

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