Clinical use and bacteriological studies of catheter contamination sleeves.

A system combining a valved introducer sheath and a plastic protective sleeve enabling repositioning of pulmonary artery catheters was tested in 73 cardiac surgical patients. It was used for a mean time of 70.3 h and allowed for improved hemodynamic monitoring. A 12 percent incidence of valve contamination was found and makes the safety of the device questionable.