Reuse of electrophysiology catheters is an important cost-saving option for many laboratories. However, to be reused safely, catheters must undergo resterilization with @entity11540 ( @entity6157 ). Residual @entity6157 levels on resterilized catheters may be high and could pose a risk to @entity1 . Resterilized diagnostic electrophysiology catheters were tested for residual @entity6157 using headspace gas chromatography after both a standard resterilization with an aeration process and after a resterilization process that incorporated a @entity10518 period. The Food and Drug Administration's maximum permissible level of @entity6157 for implantable products, 25 parts per million (ppm), was used as the cutoff for acceptable catheter residuals. At day 2 after standard resterilization, the residual level of @entity6157 on catheters was high at 41 +/- 6 ppm. However, these levels decreased with shelf time, decreasing to 26 +/- 3 ppm by day 7 and to 14 +/- 2 ppm by day 14 after sterilization, at which time all catheters were <25 ppm (p <0.001). Detoxification periods of 6, 12, and 15 hours were tested and 15 hours was found to be optimal. After 15 hours of @entity10518 , residual @entity6157 was 19 +/- 1 ppm by day 2 and all catheters were <25 ppm. In summary, electrophysiology catheters that have undergone resterilization have residual @entity6157 levels that are twice the Food and Drug Administration's limit for implantable products. Residual @entity6157 levels may be substantially reduced either by allowing a 14-day waiting period after resterilization or by incorporating a @entity10518 period immediately after @entity6157 exposure.

XXXX on electrophysiology catheters following resterilization: implications for catheter reuse.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients'] @entity11540 :: ('MESH:D005027', 'Chemical') :: ['ethylene oxide'] @entity6157 :: ('CHEBI:27561', 'Chemical') :: ['EtO'] @entity10518 :: ('MESH:C565043', 'Disease') :: ['detoxification']
@entity11540 :: (MESH:D005027,Chemical) :: ['Ethylene oxide']
