The effect of catheter to vein ratio on blood flow rates in a simulated model of peripherally inserted central venous catheters.

Background: Catheter-related thrombosis is a common complication in all anatomic sites, especially when smaller veins of the upper extremity are considered. It is presumed that the presence of a catheter within the lumen of a vein will decrease flow and potentially create stasis, and clinical data suggest that the size of the catheter impacts thrombosis rates. We sought to determine, both mathematically and experimentally, the impact of catheters on fluid flow rates.