Catheters & infusions: Direct access to essential pathways and organs of the body

Indispensable for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes

Infusions and catheters are probably the most important aids for supplying substances and removing metabolic products. With their help, it is possible to determine chemical and physical parameters directly within organs and to administer active substances directly into the bloodstream without any surgical intervention. Catheters are also used to remove and drain accumulated metabolic products which, for various reasons, cannot be removed in any other way and would have a toxic or otherwise harmful effect without immediate intervention.

The human circulatory system is a sensitive system. Even a slight deviation in the concentration of electrolytes, gases or the pH value from the target state can be fatal. A catheter can be used to check the current status as quickly as possible, while the infusion systems can be used to quickly and directly provide the vital compensation with the appropriate, precisely measured active ingredient solution.

While a bladder catheter usually remains in the body as a permanent catheter for a longer period of time, the cardiac catheter in particular is both a diagnostic and therapeutic tool for the cardiologist. A fine, flexible tube is guided either venously or arterially to the heart. Many procedures also offer the possibility of direct intervention during the examination, for example, narrowed vessels can be widened again by balloon dilatation.

Bladder and oxygen catheters as well as infusions are widely used consumables, particularly in the care sector. In infant or elderly care, they enable the parenteral supply of fluids and nutrients, which means that the intestinal passage and, of course, oral intake can be completely bypassed. A wide variety of diameters and shapes enable a wide range of applications.

Good to know: Catheters and their function

A catheter is a rigid or flexible instrument that can be inserted into various cavities or tissues in the body. There are variants that are available as a tube and are made of flexible materials such as plastic, latex or silicone. Others are rigid, made of glass or metal and look more like a tube. In addition to different lengths and shapes, they are also available in different diameters. The diameter is usually not given in millimeters, but - as with many other medical products - in "Charrière". The conversion factor is approximately three; for an exact calculation, the Charrière value must be multiplied by π to obtain the diameter in millimeters. The openings on both sides of the catheter are also known as "catheter eyes". In addition to the best-known areas of application such as bladder or cardiac catheters, there are also special catheter variants such as oxygen catheters for the respiratory tract, various designs for the gastrointestinal tract or models for dialysis or cancer therapy.

Facts worth knowing about infusions

In medicine, an infusion is the administration of fluids with or without active ingredients to various parts of the body. As a rule, the administration takes place "intravenously", which means that the corresponding access has been established in a vein. A vein in turn transports deoxygenated blood back to the heart. In contrast to injections, infusions supply larger quantities of fluids at a controlled flow rate. Infusions are classified according to their intended use, access route and duration. As part of infusion therapy, for example for long-term parenteral nutrition that bypasses the gastrointestinal tract, either central venous catheters (CVCs) are placed in the larger veins of the body or peripheral accesses are used.

System optimization: How can infusions and catheters be used effectively?

In the field of medicine and care, it is essential to always work in a clean and well-organized manner. With good management, everyday life can be made much easier with various aids. Errors can be avoided and stress reduced. In many cases, a well-organized working environment can be achieved with small purchases that result in perfectly coordinated infusion systems in which the infusion bottle, the infusion bottle holder and all infusion devices are perfectly matched. Sometimes an additional basket or holder in the right place saves everyone several hours of time per month. Almost everyone who has ever been in hospital comes into contact with an infusion pump, which is why it is the most frequently used medical device in the clinical sector. It is therefore all the more important that all individual components and infusion devices, as well as the infusion stand, infusion bottle and, of course, the infusion solution, are high-quality products that fit together perfectly. According to the Medical Devices Operator Ordinance (MPBetreibV), a visual inspection of all devices before switching on the infusion devices is mandatory. This includes looking at plugs and sockets, every tube and every hose. An extra look at the infusion solution and infusion bottle is just as important as a short test run of all infusion devices and the infusion pump. However, this regulation is of little use if there is no clarity at all due to an unsuitable product combination. Patient satisfaction also improves significantly if the patient does not have to remain in an uncomfortable position with an oxygen catheter because there is no suitable holder for the oxygen cylinder or it has been placed in an unfavorable position. It may also be possible to reduce the length of the tube or pipe.

Buschmeier medical devices - optimized for users of all catheter and infusion variants