SCANNING ELECTRON-MICROSCOPIC INVESTIGATIONS OF SURFACE-TREATED LARGE-BORE CATHETERS USED FOR EXTRACORPOREAL DETOXIFICATION METHODS

Typical complications caused by surface properties of synthetic cathet er implants are infection, thrombosis, and stenosis. New methods for s urface modification with the aim of reducing such complications are io n beam-based technologies. In our study 109 large-bore catheters witho ut (n = 42) and with treated surfaces with silver (n = 39) or silicone (n = 28) were inserted into the interna jugular and the subclavian ve ins and were used for extracorporeal detoxification methods. After rem oval, the catheters were investigated with scanning electron microscop y (SEM) and for bacterial colonization. In 42 large-bore catheters wit hout surface treatment deposits of fibrin, protein and blood cells wer e seen on the inner and outer surface. Bacterial colonization was obse rved In 38.1%. In contrast, the catheters with treated outer surfaces showed a very low thrombogenecity and a low contamination rate of 8.9% . The ion beam-based technologies reduce the thrombogenicity and infec tion rates of the catheter surfaces. In comparison to catheters withou t treated surfaces, catheters with surface treatment are good alternat ives in blood contacting applications ranging from hemodialysis to onc ology.