title: Does the use of hydrochloric acid damage silicone rubber central venous catheters?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hydrochloric acid (HCl) is commonly used to clear obstructions in central venous catheters (CVC).
  
  
  METHODS
  To determine if HCl adversely affects the integrity of a CVC we infused 0.1 N HCl daily into CVC in vitro. At weekly intervals sections of the CVC were removed and examined using scanning electron microscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Over 8 weeks, no damage to the CVC was visible.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HCl administration poses no threat to the structural integrity of a CVC.
authors.affiliation: USDA/ARS Children's Nutrition Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Houston, Texas, USA.
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Shulman
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Barrish
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Hicks
mesh_terms: D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling; D006851:Hydrochloric Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D012826:Silicone Elastomers
chemical_list: D012826:Silicone Elastomers; D006851:Hydrochloric Acid