Sleeve-related thrombosis - A new form of catheter-related thrombosis

In a detailed study of central venous catheter-related sleeve and thrombosi s in experimental animals, a new form of thrombosis was detected and termed sleeve-related thrombosis. A silastic catheter was placed in the jugular v ein and the anterior vena cava of 22 rabbits and 54 rats. After intervals o f 1, 3, 7 days, 2, 3, 4 weeks and 1, 2, 4, 6 months the veins were examined by light microscopy and by transmission electron microscopy. In about 50% of the rats a thrombus was observed at the end of the catheter sleeve. Cons ecutive cutting allowed the visualization of a transition from a sleeve via part of sleeve and part of thrombus to a pure thrombus. This thrombus was separated from the vein wall and could not be considered a mural thrombus. As the thrombus was only attached to the terminal part of the organized cat heter sleeve we propose the name sleeve-related thrombosis. (C) 2001 Elsevi er Science Ltd. All rights reserved.