A newly designed total implantable venous access device in rats for research with high efficiency and low cost

In this study, we introduced a newly designed totally implantable device for long-term vascular access in rats and compared its efficacy, related complications, and cost-effectiveness with conventional exteriorized jugular vein catheters.

Forty adult male Sprague-Dawley rats, weighing 250-300 g, were equally divided into two groups (I and II) and all underwent jugular vein catheterization surgery. The totally implanted device was used in group I and conventional exteriorized catheters were used in group II. The functionality of each catheter was checked every 3 d and evaluation included vascular accessibility, patency, and infection. The weight of the animal and microbial culture from the wound and tube were also monitored. We analyzed the cause of vascular access failure and complications, both mechanical and infectious, and compared related variables.

The proportions of 9-d patency and 30-d patency in group I were 90% (18/20) and 75% (15/20), respectively, and in group II 80% (16/20) and 35% (7/20), respectively. There was a statistically significant difference in 30-d patency. The rats in group II were more liable to involve vascular access failure because of catheter dislodgment and had a higher infection rate (P = 0.001). Daily body weight gain was also greater in group I than in group II (2.46 ± 0.59 g/d versus 1.84 ± 0.96 g/d; P = 0.02).

This newly designed and totally implanted device substantially increases the success rate of long-term venous access compared with conventional methods. It reinforces the merits of the subcutaneous port and a tethered swivel system and overall has better performance and reliability. Furthermore, given its low cost and the high level of effectiveness offered, this technology could be a powerful tool to be used in future translational medicine research, especially in cases of long-term intravascular administration.