Faulty Superset plastic catheter mounts. A cautionary tale applicable to other mass-produced disposable products.

Abstract

Nine Superset (Intersurgical Ltd) single-use corrugated plastic catheter mounts were found to be faulty in a boxed batch of 75. The manufacturer's meticulous system of batch coding enabled the source of the problem to be traced quickly. Sporadic faults must be expected to occur in mass-produced disposable equipment and the unusual origin of the defect reported in these catheter mounts is testimony to the way unexpected events can prejudice the most carefully regulated quality control. It is emphasised that the user can help safeguard the community by ensuring that stock is used in strict rotation and that batch numbers are accurately reported when faults arise.