Reuse of catheters and devices labelled for single use: evidence, recommendations and oversight

Introduction Cardiovascular disease has become the most common cause of death and morbidity throughout the world, not just the affluent societies. In 2015, there were 422 million prevalent cases of cardiovascular disease worldwide, and it accounted for an estimated 30% of deaths.1 2As most people live in low-income and middle-income countries, the burden of cardiovascular disease is the greatest in resource-poor countries. The cardiovascular epidemic has a direct impact on the health of the patients and also on the welfare of the economies in which those patients live and work. Poverty can be both a contributing cause and a consequence of cardiovascular disease. It is in the context of oppressive burden of healthcare spending that the discussion about reusing catheters and devices should be considered. Historical context In the mid-20th century, most medical devices were made of metal, glass or rubber and were...
Source: Heart Asia - Category: Cardiology Authors: Tags: Editorial Source Type: research