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B-133044 1 (1974-03-14)

handle is hein.gao/gaobaaftk0001 and id is 1 raw text is: 1P. UNITED STATES GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE 0q qj/ UWASHINGTON, D.C. 20548 ,=f ==. MANPOWER AND WELFARE DIVISION B-133044 MAR 1 4 1974 The Honorable Donald E. Johnson Administrator i Veterans Administration LM095971 Dear Mr. Johnson: We visited three Vteani Admnistrat _sL hospjtals in California to determine whether disposable athetrs-And tudis'.We found that two of the three hospitals reused these devices to some extent despite the manufacturers' cautions that reuse of the devices may endanger patient safety. USE OF CATHETERS AND GUIDEWIRES Both the radiology and cardiology departments of a hospi- tal use catheters and guidewires in vascular studies. The guidewires are inserted through a blood vessel to the study site, such as in the aorta, heart, or brain. The catheter is placed over the wire which is used to guide the catheter to the study site. Once the catheter is in place, the guide- wire is removed. The catheter is then filled with a con- trast medium for use in active catheterization and filming. Guidewires in current use are stainless steel or stainless steel with a teflon coating. Catheters are plastic tubes which may be constructed in combination with various types of material, such as stainless steel or teflon. DEVICES REUSED DESPITE MANUFACTURERS' CAUTIONS Guidewires and certain catheters are manufactured as disposables, and the manufacturers label the products as such, or state on the packaging, the accompanying literature, or the catalog that they are recommended, or intended, for one-time use. The manufacturers and users are concerned about the reuse of these devices, because complete cleaning is virtually im- possible and because reuse weakens them. Therefore the

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