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

Abstract

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, 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 < 0.01). The results implicate that fluorethylenprophylene could induce a higher incidence of thrombophlebitis than tetrafluorethylene cannulas.