Clinical evaluation of elastomeric hydrogel peripheral catheters during home infusion therapy

The use of elastomeric hydrogel (Aquavene, Menlo Care, Menlo Park, Calif.) peripheral catheters in home infusion therapy was prospectively evaluated. Elastomeric hydrogel catheter composition differs from that of conventional peripheral catheters made of Teflon or silicone in that it softens upon insertion and expands two gauge sizes within 30 minutes of insertion. Fifty-four test catheters were successfully placed in 44 home infusion therapy patients, for a total dwell time of 290 days. Average dwell time was 5.37 days, with a range of 1 to 20 days. The extension of dwell time beyond the accepted standard of 72 hours was not associated with an increased incidence of phlebitis when compared to the incidence of phlebitis reported in the scientific literature. The ability to extend peripheral catheter dwell time without increasing the incidence of catheter-related complications may have major clinical and economic advantages for the payors, providers, and consumers of home infusion therapy.