title: Trimming long-term tunneled central venous catheters in pediatric patients.
abstract: Long-term tunneled central venous catheters (CVC) are employed in critically ill patients. Manufacturers do not provide patient-customized devices; therefore, trimming is required for pediatric use. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) was used to assess changes induced by different trimming methods on single and double lumen Hickman-Broviac catheters. Increased roughness, exposure of inorganic macroaggreagates and increase in surface inorganic charges were generated by the trimming procedure, with the scalpel producing a smoother surface compared to scissors. Trimming produces changes on the CVC surface that may influence the rate of long-term complications.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Surgery, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Inserra
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Crocoli
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Conforti
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: De Petris
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jenkner
mesh_terms: D062905:Central Venous Catheters / Q000009:adverse effects; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared