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EmailIphone Application    Posted: 16th August 2022
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Study considers improving tolerance of intravenous catheterisation
Image (C) BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Emergency and Critical Care.
Reactions to vapocoolant spray swab and saline swab compared.

New research on improving the tolerance of intravenous catheterisation in emergency patients has found no significant difference when using vapocoolant spray than a saline control.

Studying canine and feline patients, researchers aimed to determine whether applying vapocoolant spray before inserting an intravenous catheter resulted in a reduced reaction and placement success.

Client-owned cats and dogs presenting as emergencies were used in the randomised control trial, and patients were randomly allocated to a swab saturated with vapocoolant spray or a swab saturated with saline before intravenous catheterisation.

For each patient, a video recording was taken of the swab application and the catheterisation, and these were reviewed by a single blinded observer, who assigned reaction scores. These scores (0 to 3) were assigned at four time points in the recording, initial restraint, limb handling, swab application and skin puncture.

The indirect application of vapocoolant spray before catheterisation via a swab did not have any significant effect on the reactions of the dogs and cats. It also did not appear to improve the success rates of placement. 

In canine patients, the study showed a significantly greater adverse response to the application of the vapocoolant swab in comparison to the saline control. Feline patients demonstrated adverse reactions to both.

Published in the Journal of Small Animal Practice (JSAP), 'The efficacy of vapocoolant spray for the improved tolerance of catheter pain in emergency patients' is available to read here, but is behind a paywall for non-BSAVA members. 

Nicola Di Girolamo, editor of JSAP, commented: “Pragmatic, adequately-powered, randomised controlled trials like the one presented here are essential to evaluate whether an intervention is not only efficacious in a controlled environment, but also effective during clinical practice.”

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Birmingham Dogs Home makes urgent appeal

News Story 1
 Birmingham Dogs Home has issued an urgent winter appeal as it faces more challenges over the Christmas period.

The rescue centre has seen a dramatic increase in dogs coming into its care, and is currently caring for over 200 dogs. With rising costs and dropping temperatures, the charity is calling for urgent support.

It costs the charity £6,000 per day to continue its work.

Fi Harrison, head of fundraising and communications, said: "It's heart-breaking for our team to see the conditions some dogs arrive in. We really are their last chance and hope of survival."

More information about the appeal can be found here. 

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News Shorts
Avian flu confirmed at premises in Cornwall

A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has been detected in commercial poultry at a premises near Rosudgeon, Cornwall.

All poultry on the infected site will be humanely culled, and a 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone have been put in place. Poultry and other captive birds in the 3km protection zone must be housed.

The case is the second avian flu case confirmed in commercial poultry this month. The H5N5 strain was detected in a premises near Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire, in early November. Before then, the disease had not been confirmed in captive birds in England since February.

The UK chief veterinary officer has urged bird keepers to remain alert and practise robust biosecurity.

A map of the disease control zones can be found here.