title: The reuse of single-use balloon angioplasty catheters: is it now legitimate?
abstract: A recent nonrandomized study comparing the experience of 2 Canadian centers, 1 reusing balloon angioplasty catheters and the other using only new catheters, concluded that the reuse of angioplasty catheters was associated with higher rates of in-hospital complications and procedural drawbacks. However, after subsequent adjustment for differences in baseline characteristics of the patients in the 2 centers, the rates of in-hospital events was found to be similar in both centers.
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Bourassa
mesh_terms: D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004209:Disposable Equipment; D017743:Equipment Reuse; D006801:Humans