Thrombogenic properties of arterial catheters: a scanning electron microscopic examination of the surface structure.

We performed 300 consecutive coronary arteriographies with 2 different kinds of catheters: polyurethane catheters and polyethylene catheters. The thromboembolic complication rate for investigations with each type of catheters is compared to the surface structure as seen with the scanning electron microscope (SEM). The complication rate was 21.4% for polyurethane catheters and 0.3% for polyethylene catheters. The inner surface of polyurethane catheters was irregular, while the inner surface of polyethylene catheters appeared smooth. The outer surface of polyurethane catheters was slight irregular, while the outer surface of polyethylene catheters was smooth. These results are compared to other investigations of the surface structure of coronary catheters and to reports on the thromboembolic complication rate at coronary arteriography. It is concluded that the 2 types of catheters have different thrombogenic properties and that the surface structure is of major importance for this difference.