Avoid catheters over 3 months old, says UK MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency):
This article was originally published in Clinica
Executive Summary
UK radiologists are being urged to observe new catheterisation guidelines issued by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), following "several incidents" involving the rupture of multi-lumen central venous catheters during the injection of contrast medium for CT imaging. The MHRA recommends using a peripheral cannula when using powered injection, whenever possible. In warning against the use of powered injection through tunnelled central lines, the MHRA specifically highlights the danger of using catheters that are over three months old, as "they are more liable to rupture".