125I-fibrinogen uptake on peripheral venous cannulas: a comparison between different cannula materials and coatings

Using a similar technique as 125I-Fibrinogen uptake test for detection of deep venous thrombi, the radioactivity over cannulas inserted into veins on the dorsal aspect of the hands was measured 1, 2, 4 and 24 h after insertion. In three groups of 10 postoperative patients it was by random allocation inserted on one side a siliconized tetrafluorethylene cannula and on the other side one of either: a nonsiliconized tetrafluorethylene cannula and on the other side one of either: a nonsiliconized tetrafluorethylene, a heparinized tetrafluorethylene or a fluorethylenpropylene cannula. The same volume and type of infusion was given in both cannulas. No difference in protein deposition was seen between siliconized and nonsiliconized tetrafluorethylene. A tendency of lower protein deposition, especially at 24 h on heparinized tetrafluorethylene was found. The fluorethylenpropylene cannulas had both over cannula and adjacent vein higher protein deposition at all measurements compared to the siliconized tetrafluorethylene cannula (p less than 0.01). The results implicate that fluorethylenprophylene could induce a higher incidence of thrombophlebitis than tetrafluorethylene cannulas.