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Comparison of silicone and polyurethane catheters for the catheterization of small vessels in mice

Lab Animal volume 43, pages 397–403 (2014)Cite this article

Abstract

Vascular catheterization is increasingly carried out in laboratory mice, but the long-term patency of catheters implanted in mice is limited owing to their small size. The authors compared mice that were catheterized in their right common carotid artery either with a silicone catheter with a polyurethane tip or with a 100% polyurethane catheter to determine which catheter type was better suited for long-term studies in mice. The catheters were inspected daily and were flushed if blood was visible in the catheters; if no blood was visible, they were flushed every 3 d. Silicone catheters were patent for a shorter period of time than polyurethane catheters, which were patent for a median of 6 d and up to 25 d. The authors identify the principal causes of catheter failure and discuss how they can be prevented.

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Figure 1: Silicone and polyurethane catheters.
Figure 2
Figure 3: Catheter inspection and flushing procedure.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Otto Kalliokoski for thoroughly reading and commenting on the manuscript.

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Author notes

  1. Anne Charlotte Teilmann and Malene Kari Falkenberg: These authors contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Anne Charlotte Teilmann,  Malene Kari Falkenberg,  Jann Hau &  Klas Stig Peter Abelson

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  1. Anne Charlotte Teilmann
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  2. Malene Kari Falkenberg
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  4. Klas Stig Peter Abelson
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Correspondence to Anne Charlotte Teilmann.

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Teilmann, A., Falkenberg, M., Hau, J. et al. Comparison of silicone and polyurethane catheters for the catheterization of small vessels in mice. Lab Anim 43, 397–403 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/laban.570

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