DATASCOPE LAUNCHES PROGUIDE CATHETER

Datascope has launched its ProGuide chronic dialysis catheter, designed specifically for an over-the-wire insertion.

Chronic dialysis catheters connect a patient with end-stage renal disease to a dialysis machine. Hemodialysis catheters commonly use a sheath - a thin-walled tube - to gain entry to the central venous system. By eliminating the peel-away sheath, ProGuide allows for over-the-wire insertion and has been documented as being more convenient than other dialysis catheters on the market.

Additionally, the elimination of the sheath provides a clinical benefit for the patient. The sheath provides a path for insertion of the catheter, but also makes it possible for air to enter the bloodstream. During the sheathless insertion of ProGuide, moist skin and tissue surrounding the catheter effectively seal against the passage of air, reducing the opportunity for air to enter the vein and thus the possibility of air embolism.