Addition of cyanoacrylate adhesive improves the strength of catheter securement and integrity of transparent dressing: Results from an in vitro test model

Abstract

Introduction: Intravenous catheters present complications to patients, such as dislodgment, pistoning, micromovement, and infection. Despite the use of transparent dressings, a significant rate of I.V. catheter complications still arise. This article is to provide a scientific and technological perspective on how bonding a transparent dressing to a substrate using 2-octyl cyanoacrylate and n-butyl cyanoacrylate (OBCA) via multiple methods can significantly enhance the adhesion strength of the transparent dressing product, which subsequently increases the securement strength of the catheter. Materials and methods: Using porcine skin, an adhesive formula made of a mixture of OBCA was applied to both the I.V. catheter and transparent dressing to evaluate the adhesion strength and securement strength in vitro. Results: The studies show that using OBCA to bond the transparent dressing to the substrate significantly improved the adhesion strength by up to 8 times, and catheter securement by up to 7.4 times stronger than using a transparent dressing alone. Conclusion: It was determined that using OBCA to bond the transparent dressing to the substrate results in strengthening the adhesion strength of the transparent dressing, which could potentially reduce dressing complications. By using OBCA to affix the transparent dressing to the substrate catheter securement strength was also significantly increased which can potentially reduce catheter dislodgment, migration, and micromovement.