Which statement describes a hydrophilic coating on guide wires?

Which statement describes a hydrophilic coating on guide wires?

• A. Becomes slick when wet; must always keep wire wet
• B. Becomes sticky when wet
• C. Remains unchanged when wet
• D. Works only when dry

Answer: (A)

Hydrophilic coatings are designed to become highly lubricious when they are wet. In the vascular environment, they absorb water and form a hydrated layer that greatly lowers friction between the guide wire and the vessel or instruments. That’s why this coating is described as slick when wet, and why keeping the wire moist helps maintain that lubricity during navigation. If the coating dries, the hydration layer diminishes and friction increases, making advancement harder. The other statements conflict with this hydration-driven lubrication: a coating that becomes sticky when wet would hinder progression, one that remains unchanged when wet wouldn’t provide lubrication, and a coating that works only when dry contradicts the hydrophilic behavior.

Hydrophilic coatings are designed to become highly lubricious when they are wet. In the vascular environment, they absorb water and form a hydrated layer that greatly lowers friction between the guide wire and the vessel or instruments. That’s why this coating is described as slick when wet, and why keeping the wire moist helps maintain that lubricity during navigation. If the coating dries, the hydration layer diminishes and friction increases, making advancement harder. The other statements conflict with this hydration-driven lubrication: a coating that becomes sticky when wet would hinder progression, one that remains unchanged when wet wouldn’t provide lubrication, and a coating that works only when dry contradicts the hydrophilic behavior.