title: Mechanic and surface properties of central-venous port catheters after removal: A comparison of polyurethane and silicon rubber materials.
abstract: Central venous port devices made of two different polymeric materials, thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) and silicone rubber (SiR), were compared due their material properties. Both naïve catheters as well as catheters after removal from patients were investigated. In lab experiments the influence of various chemo-therapeutic solutions on material properties was investigated, whereas the samples after removal were compared according to the implanted time in patient. The macroscopic, mechanical performance was assessed with dynamic, specially adapted tests for elasticity. The degradation status of the materials was determined with common tools of polymer characterisation, such as infrared spectroscopy, molecular weight measurements and various methods of thermal analysis. The surface morphology was analysed using scanning electron microscopy. A correlation between material properties and clinical performance was proposed. The surface morphology and chemical composition of the polyurethane catheter materials can potentially result in increased susceptibility of the catheter to bloodstream infections and thrombotic complications. The higher mechanic failure, especially with increasing implantation time of the silicone catheters is related to the lower mechanical performance compared to the polyurethane material as well as loss of barium sulphate filler particles near the surface of the catheter. This results in preformed microscopic notches, which act as predetermined sites of fracture.
authors.affiliation: BAM Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing, Unter den Eichen 87, 12200 Berlin, Germany. Electronic address: ulrike.braun@bam.de.
authors.forename: Ulrike
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Braun
authors.affiliation: BAM Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing, Unter den Eichen 87, 12200 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Edelgard
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lorenz
authors.affiliation: BAM Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing, Unter den Eichen 87, 12200 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Christiane
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Weimann
authors.affiliation: BAM Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing, Unter den Eichen 87, 12200 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Heinz
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sturm
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, TU, München, Germany.
authors.forename: Ilham
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Karimov
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, TU, München, Germany.
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ettl
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Universitätsklinikum, Ulm, Germany.
authors.forename: Reinhard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Meier
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Universitätsklinikum, Regensburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Walter A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Wohlgemuth
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, TU, München, Germany.
authors.forename: Hermann
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Berger
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, TU, München, Germany; Department of Clinical Radiology, Universitätsklinikum, Münster, Germany.
authors.forename: Moritz
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wildgruber
mesh_terms: D002408:Catheters, Indwelling; D020878:Device Removal; D006801:Humans; D011140:Polyurethanes / Q000737:chemistry*; D012408:Rubber / Q000737:chemistry*; D012825:Silicon / Q000737:chemistry*; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D011140:Polyurethanes; D012408:Rubber; D012825:Silicon
keywords: Central venous access port; Complication; Mechanical testing; Polyurethane; Silicon rubber; Structure property relationship