A mandrin is a metal guide for flexible
catheter
In medicine, a catheter ( ) is a thin tubing (material), tube made from medical grade materials serving a broad range of functions. Catheters are medical devices that can be inserted in the body to treat diseases or perform a surgical procedure. ...
s.
[thefreedictionary.com > mandrin]
Citing: Saunders Comprehensive Veterinary Dictionary, 3 ed. 2007 by Elsevier, Inc., and Dorland's Medical Dictionary for Health Consumers. 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier. It is a stiff wire or stylet inserted into the soft catheter and gives it shape and firmness while passing through a hollow tubular structure.
[thefreedictionary.com > "mandrin"]
''The American Heritage Medical Dictionary''. 2007 by Houghton Mifflin Company
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Company ( ; HMH) is an American publisher of textbooks, instructional technology materials, assessments, and reference works. The company is based in the Boston Financial District. It was formerly known as the Houghto ...
. It is sometimes called a
mandrel
A mandrel, mandril, or arbor is a tapered tool against which material can be forged, pressed, stretched or shaped (e.g., a ring mandrel - also called a triblet - used by jewellers to increase the diameter of a wedding ring), or a flanged or t ...
,
[ although ''mandrel'' may refer to other types of instruments as well.
]
Mandrins in gastric tubes (guide wire)
Particularly soft material is used for long gastric or feeding tubes to prevent pressure necrosis and ulceration of the esophageal wall. If such soft tubes are advanced through the nose towards the stomach, they need an internal splint to prevent them from kinking, rolling up or even knotting halfway. Such “guide wires” usually consist of hollow metal spirals that allow the correct position to be checked by aspiration of gastric juice before the stylet is removed.
See also
References
Catheters
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