Impact of lock solutions on the mechanical performance of polyurethane central venous catheters: A comparative study.

The impact of ethanol locks on the mechanical performances of central venous catheters was compared to that of aqueous-based locks. Several mechanical tests were performed to evaluate catheter behavior: kinking radius measurements, burst pressure, and tensile tests. Different polyurethanes were studied to assess the impact of radio-opaque charge and polymer chemical composition on catheter behavior. The results were correlated to swelling measurements and calorimetric measurements. In particular, ethanol locks have a higher impact on long contact time than aqueous-based locks: stresses and strains at break were lower, and kinking radii were higher. However, for all catheters, the mechanical performances remain much higher than the normative requirements.

Surface and mechanical properties of polyurethane central venous catheters after repeated contact with chemotherapy excipient solutions.

This article investigates the impact of the interactions between polyurethane central venous catheters and solutions containing excipients used in cisplatin and paclitaxel formulations. Changes to the properties of catheters and the leaching of catheter additives into the infused solutions were studied while these solutions were infused cyclically for several months. Chemotherapy treatment was mimicked in vitro in compliance with hospital practices. The treatment cycle was repeated 10 times, using solutions containing only the excipients. After 10 treatment cycles, no physical or chemical degradation of the catheter was observed. Mechanical performances were stable, but surface modifications occurred, causing the surface to become more hydrophobic. A loss in polyurethane antioxidant amount was observed in part due to a leaching phenomenon.