Teleflex Medical, a leading global supplier of disposable products for critical care and surgical applications, will exhibit its new pressure injectable central venous catheters at the Society of Interventional Radiology Meeting in Washington, D.C. from March 15 – 20. The FDA provided clearance to commercialize Arrow multi-lumen central venous catheters with the additional indication of pressure injection. Arrow is the only manufacturer of acute central venous catheters indicated for pressure injection up to 10ml/second.
Teleflex Medical estimates that nearly 20 percent of patients in acute care settings who are CVC recipients will need a CT scan. The additional indication gives clinicians who perform CT scans more options for scanning patients. CT technicians will now have the option of using an indwelling pressure injectable Arrow CVC without having to insert another catheter just for the scan. Arrow’s additional indication will reduce the stress on patients who up to now have had to endure another catheter insertion.
The Arrow Pressure Injectable CVC is available in Maximal Barrier trays. Arrow’s Maximal Barrier Precautions Tray with ARROWg+ard Blue PLUS® is an integrated kit for combating five sources of catheter-related bloodstream infection (CRBSI): environmental contamination, skin flora, post-placement subcutaneous tract infection, intraluminal contamination, and hematogenous seeding. The Arrow Maximal Barrier Precautions Tray also helps reduce risk by including protective apparel and upgraded sharps safety devices. And its components help ensure compliance with the latest guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) and the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI).
Additionally, the Pressure Injectable CVC products include a new echogenic introducer needle, also recently cleared by the FDA. The echogenic needle is designed to enhance visibility of the needle tip under ultrasound guidance. Ultrasound guidance has been shown to substantially reduce venous access complications compared with the more common landmark techniques. The CDC, IHI, and Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) support the use of ultrasound guidance for the placement of central venous catheters. The new Arrow echogenic needle, when used with ultrasound guidance, can improve success rates for venous access on the first attempt. The combination can eliminate multiple punctures while significantly improving the rate of first time accuracy, significantly reducing venous access procedural times and the potential for malpositioning of catheters. The new echogenic needle, along with the Arrow InView™ Ultrasound System, will complement Arrow’s broadening range of products designed to reduce the risk and complications of venous access.
“Pressure injection involves pushing specific volumes of contrast into the patient’s bloodstream very quickly. The bolus of contrast is seen by the CT scanner and helps clinicians collect images from inside the patient with ever-increasing clarity. Access to scanning equipment continues to grow as do the scanners’ capabilities; this means that more and more patients can benefit from this technology. Fortunately, Arrow’s new capability will reduce the need for the 20 or so percent of patients who already have a CVC from needing to receive another needle insertion,” said Tim Hopper, Vice President, Marketing, Teleflex Medical North America. “This will benefit patients and also hospitals by saving the CT department time and other resources.”
About Teleflex Medical
Headquartered in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, Teleflex Medical is a global leader in disposable medical products for critical care and surgical applications and a business segment of Teleflex Incorporated (NYSE:TFX). The company also produces surgical instruments and devices, cardiac devices and other specialty products for device manufacturers. The Teleflex Medical family of brands includes the trusted names of Arrow®, Beere, Deknatel®, Gibeck®, HudsonRCI®, KMedic®, Pilling®, Pleur-Evac®, Rsch®, Sheridan®, SMD, SSI™, Taut®, TFX Medical OEM and Weck®.
The Arrow brand product line offers a broad range of clinically advanced, disposable catheters and related products for critical and cardiac care. Arrow products are used primarily by anesthesiologists, critical care specialists, surgeons, emergency and trauma physicians, cardiologists, interventional radiologists and other healthcare providers. More information about Arrow products can be found at www.teleflexmedical.com.
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