title: Comparison of blood flow rates and hydraulic resistance between the Mahurkar catheter, the Tesio twin catheter, and the Ash Split Cath.
abstract: The Ash Split Cath (Medcomp, Harleysville, PA) is a recently introduced dual lumen permanent catheter designed to be placed through the internal jugular vein into the superior vena cava by single venipuncture technique. The transcutaneous portion is a 14 French cylindrically shaped catheter with D-shaped lumens and a Dacron (DuPont, Wilmington, DE) cuff. At the entrance to the jugular vein, the catheter splits into two separate D-shaped limbs that then merge into multiholed cylindrical tips in the vena cava. Split Caths (n = 10) have been placed in patients with end-stage renal disease and used for outpatient dialysis for approximately 2 months. Flow rates and hydraulic resistance have been compared with Mahurkar (Bard, Salt Lake City, UT) (n = 22) and Tesio (Medcomp) (n = 17) catheters in the same unit. Average blood flow rates (Qb) were 295 +/- 42 (SD) for Ash Split Caths vs 279 +/- 38 and 300 +/- 39 ml3/min for Mahurkar and Tesio catheters, respectively, and hydraulic resistances were 0.44 +/- 0.17, 0.52 +/- 0.15, and 0.56 +/- 0.11 mmHg/ml/min, respectively (not significant). No Split Caths have been removed for bleeding or flow complications. The Split Cath provides the simplicity of placement and removal of a single-bodied catheter with flow advantages of independent, cylindrical, multiholed tips.
authors.affiliation: Arnett Clinic, Lafayette, Indiana, USA.
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Mankus
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Ash
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Sutton
mesh_terms: D055592:Biophysical Phenomena; D001703:Biophysics; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000295:instrumentation*; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling; D006801:Humans; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000295:instrumentation*