Hello--are there advantages and disadvantages of silicone vs. polyurethane CVCs? Specifically, I am looking for a comparison between Broviac/Hickman vs. the BARD tunneled Power CVC (or other similar brands)
If your paitents will need to have a CT with the contrast gicen through the catheter, your only choice is one that is labeled for power injection. Generally speaking, polyurethane has greater mechanical strength and silicone is more tolerant of chemicals such as alcohol. To make silicone mechanicallly stronger, the catheter walls are thicker, while polyurethane has thinner walls with adequate mechanical strength. Polyurethane has prohibitions agains locking with ethanol while silicone does not. Lynn
If your paitents will need to have a CT with the contrast gicen through the catheter, your only choice is one that is labeled for power injection. Generally speaking, polyurethane has greater mechanical strength and silicone is more tolerant of chemicals such as alcohol. To make silicone mechanicallly stronger, the catheter walls are thicker, while polyurethane has thinner walls with adequate mechanical strength. Polyurethane has prohibitions agains locking with ethanol while silicone does not. Lynn
Lynn Hadaway, M.Ed., RN, BC, CRNI
Lynn Hadaway Associates, Inc.
126 Main Street, PO Box 10
Milner, GA 30257
Website http://www.hadawayassociates.com
Office Phone 770-358-7861