Monitoring acute compartment pressures with the S.T.I.C. catheter.
A new solid-state transducer intracompartment (S.T.I.C.) catheter, combining a multiperforated polyethylene tip with a solid-state transducer, was developed to measure intracompartmental pressures. Its performance characteristics were compared with those of a conventional pressure-monitoring system. In animal and human studies, comparison of the S.T.I.C. catheter with a conventional pressure-monitoring system demonstrated satisfactory correspondence over a wide pressure range (0-100 mm Hg) and a prolonged monitoring period (12-16 hours). As well as being functionally superior to the conventional systems (wick, continuous infusion, slit), the S.T.I.C. catheter is easier to assemble, calibrate, maintain, and interpret. The S.T.I.C. is recommended as a diagnostic aid in both acute and chronic compartment syndromes.
D000818:Animals; D002404:Catheterization / Q000295:instrumentation*; D003161:Compartment Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004285:Dogs; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008365:Manometry / Q000379:methods*; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000379:methods; D009132:Muscles / Q000502:physiology*; D014159:Transducers; D014160:Transducers, Pressure