Not all catheters are created equal. Reverse-tapered designs—often labeled with deceptively small French sizes—diameter can differ from label size by up to 67% near the hub, pushing catheter-to-vein ratios (CVR) beyond the INS-recommended 45% limit if not properly accounted for by the clinician and potentially increase the risk of thrombosis1,2,3. The Arrow™ TaperFree™ PICCs and Midlines from Teleflex maintain a consistent diameter and help with vessel protection.4,5,6 This session explores the industry taper designs, CVR best practices, and how to help protect your patients with precise catheter choices. Don’t let oversized lines compromise your standards— help guard the vein with a TaperFree™ Catheter.4,5,6
1.BD PICC IFU. Available at: https://www.bd.com/en-us/products-and-solutions/products/product-families/powerpicc-provena-catheter#overview 2. BD Midline IFU. Available at: https://www.bd.com/en-us/products-and-solutions/products/product-families/provena-midline-catheter#overview 3.Nickel B, Gorski L, Kleidon T, et al. Infusion therapy standards of practice, 9th edition. J Infus Nurs. 2024;47(1S):S1-S285. doi:10.1097/ NAN.000000000000053. 4. 2022 Arrow® and BD PICC Dimensional Data Study. Available from Teleflex. 5. 4 & 5 Fr - Irish, Skipper. Are Labeled PICC Sizes Sufficient for Accurate CVR Calculations? AVA 2023 Poster. 6. 6 Fr - Data on File. AVER-002772. Note 0.0810” is equivalent to 6.18 Fr. Teleflex.
