Cameron Smirk

Objective: To examine pressure changes in neonatal percutaneous central venous catheters under varying laboratory conditions and to quantify the risks of rupture in clinical practice. Design: We tested 27-gauge polyurethane Premicath and 24-gauge silicone Epicutaneo-Cave- Catheter (Vygon Corporation) catheters. Burst pressures were determined by applying a slowly ramped pressure to catheters that were occluded at the tip. Flow-pressure relationships were defined by increasing flow rates through patent catheters from 5-499mL/hr. Pressure changes during the manual flushing of catheters were determined for patent and occluded catheters and with different syringe sizes. Results: The mean burst pressure for polyurethane catheters (1730.8 kPa, 95 % CI 1634.7-1826.8) was higher than for silicone catheters (275.6 kPa, 95 % CI 240.4-310.8). Polyurethane catheters demonstrated an approximately 5 fold greater margin of safety above manufacturer recommended operatin