San Diego—Surgical-instrument maker Tulip BioMed, based here, has released results of research showing that despite cleaning, residue remains in reusable closed-end cannulas that have been previously used in plastic-surgery procedures, reports MedicalNewsToday.
The Tulip-commissioned research was conducted by a team of doctors at the University of California San Diego Medical Center’s Division of Plastic Surgery. Examinations of the interior surfaces of Tulip and non-Tulip disposable cannulas used in surgical settings revealed residue even after cleaning and sterilization.
MedicalNewsToday quoted Tulip executive Richard P. Burgoon Jr. as saying, “While we cannot state that any residue that may remain on the interior surface of reusable cannulas, despite cleaning and sterilization, are ‘contaminants,’ these results suggest that there may be the potential for the transfer of protein-residue material from one patient to another when reusable cannulas are utilized. Whether or not this could pose a safety or health risk to a patient is not known, and while no such risks may exist, this may be an issue for discussion between a physician and their patient.”
Burgoon went on to say that the company view is that given the results of the research, reusable cannulas might now be used with less frequency on a patient-to-patient basis, and with increased frequency of replacement. The company notes that a reusable cannula typically is used multiple times on multiple patients over several years before a physician replaces it with a new one.
