[Prolonged catheterization of the radial artery. Prospective evaluation of the thrombogenic and infectious risk]

The rates of thrombosis and infection were studied in 102 patients who underwent 107 radial artery cannulations. A Leader cath, ORX cannula (Vygon) was placed using Seldinger's method. It was continuously perfused with an heparinized 5% dextrose solution via an Intraflo fixed upon an arterial catheter. The cannulae were used for arterial pressure monitoring and measuring arterial blood gases. Before removing the catheter, a forearm arteriography was realized with 20 ml Hexabrix. Bacterial examination and culture were carried out on the cannula tips. 70 men and 32 women (mean age: 50 +/- 17 years) were studied. Mean duration of cannulation was 9 +/- 7 days (range: 1-34 days). Complete or partial radial artery thrombosis occurred in 85%. Complete thrombosis occurred more frequently in women (84%) than in men (54%) (p less than 0.05). There was no correlation between thrombosis and duration of cannulation (9.9 +/- days for thrombosis and 7.9 +/- 4.3 days without thrombosis). Bacterial cultures of cannula tips were positive in 24% of cannulations. Pathogenic bacilli grew in only 9%. Infected cannulas were in situ for 9.9 +/- 7 days against 8.9 +/- 6.7 days for the non-infected cannulas (NS). There was no correlation between infection and radial artery thrombosis. The use of another material (silicone, Teflon) must be studied in order to decrease the occurrence of thrombosis.