[Comparison of thrombogenic risk between teflon and polyethylene in prolonged catheterization of the radial artery]

This prospective study was designed to compare the rates of radial artery thrombosis after long-term cannulation with two different types of catheters with similar size. It included 101 patients, randomly assigned to group A (n = 51, 61 +/- 17 years, 80% males), and group B (n = 50, 55.8 +/- 18 years, 54% males). Patients in group A were cannulated with a polyethylene catheter (Leader Cath. 115-09), and those in group B with a Teflon catheter (Plastimed Seldicath). The diagnosis of arterial occlusion was made by way of a bedside angiography performed before catheter removal. An X-ray was taken after injection of 10 to 15 ml Hexabrix through the catheter. The two groups were similar with regard to anthropometric parameters (except for the sex ratio), cannulation technique, used drugs, duration of cannulation, pathological events during the stay in intensive care. The rate of complete arterial thrombosis in the two groups was similar (10%). There were no differences in the rates of partial thrombosis (51 vs. 36%, n.s.) and of absence of thrombosis (39 vs. 54%, n.s.). The rate of arterial thrombosis did not vary with the duration of cannulation, nor with age, sex, systemic heparinization, vascular collapse, cannulation technique. However, 4 polyethylene catheters were infected on removal (coagulase negative Staphylococcus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa) versus only one Teflon catheter (Staphylococcus epidermidis). In conclusion, the biocompatibility of Teflon and polyethylene catheters was found to be similar.