ASSESSMENT OF IN-LINE FILTERS TO PROLONG THE LIFE OF INTRAVENOUS CANNULAE IN CYSTIC-FIBROSIS PATIENTS

Twelve patients with cystic fibrosis received 12 courses of intravenou s antibiotics, each over 10-14 days, both with and without the use of an extended-life disposable filter. The design of the trial was to rep lace the Venflon cannulae as they became non-patent and inserting a fi lter on alternate occasions. Thus each patient acted as her/his own co ntrol. Comparison of times during which cannulae remained patent showe d a 50% improvement with use of a filter for 4 patients and no change for 7 patients. There was no significant difference associated with th e use of a filter for the group as a whole but our small sample size e xcludes modest improvements.