Thrombogenicity of central venous catheters: prospective study of polyethylene, silicone and polyurethane catheters with phlebography or post-mortem examination.

Abstract

The thrombogenicity of polyethylene, silicone and polyurethane central venous catheters was compared in a prospective clinical, phlebographic and post-mortem study in 52 patients. The incidence of central venous thrombosis was high with polyethylene catheters (70%), but much lower with silicone (20%) and with polyurethane catheters (17%).