Uncoated catheter surfaces are exposed to surface degradation due to the wash out of Barium sulfate particles when coming into contact with blood components. This causes clotting responses and accumulating occlusive thrombus formation on the catheter’s inner and outer lumen. These thrombus and fibrin deposits have been shown to be a nidus for microbial colonization of catheters.
HighFlow double lumen catheters with Dolphin coating have been created using a reactive copolymer coating with a mircrodomain surface structure that mimics the natural surface of cells or proteins. Hydrophyllic and hydrophobic domains in nanometer range fail to interact with microdomains of cell membranes or proteins. This non-eluting coating creates a smooth surface on the catheter shaft and lumen, preventing surface degradation due to the release of Barium sulfate particles, thus reducing the deposition of fibrin as well as platelet aggregation and adhesion[1].
The Dolphin coating reduces thrombus formation and accumulation on the catheter, allowing for significantly longer catheter survival as well as significantly more treatments per catheter.
The clinical proof:1,2,3
- Significantly prolonged catheter survival -> +90%
- Significantly more treatments per catheter -> +69%
- Reduced clotting risk -> -76%
- No release of Barium sulphate
- Greater blood flow rates -> +16%
References:
1. Verbeke F, Dhondt A, Haug U, Dietrich R, Deppisch R, Vanholder R. The role of polymer surface degradation and barium sulphate release in the pathogenesis of catheter-related infection. Nephrol Dial Transplant (2009) 1of 7, November 23
2. Meier P, Prolonged temporary hemodialysis catheter survival with copolymer coating in patients with End-Stage Renal Disease: PROCOP study, Hemodialysis International 2009; Vol. 13(3): 365
3. Baumann M, Witzke O, Dietrich R, Haug U, Deppisch R, Lutz J, Philipp T, Heemann U. Prolonged catheter survival in intermittend hemodialysis using a less thrombogenic micropatterned polymer modification. ASAIO Journal 2003;49:708-712
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