More than a quarter of PIVCs cause complications
In one third of cases, proper hand hygiene was not used before the procedure.
A study has revealed new insights into the complications caused by peripheral intravenous catheters (PIVCs) in UK small animal practices.
Researchers from the Royal Veterinary College found that PIVCs, which are used daily in veterinary practices, could be linked to numerous complications which might threaten an animal’s welfare.
A team of veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses examined the outcomes of PIVC placements in 19 veterinary institutes across the country over the course of 12 months. Five large referral hospitals contributed to 64 per cent of PIVC submissions.
The study investigated how the procedure had affected 325 dogs and 57 cats, with the majority of PIVCs placed to administer intravenous fluid therapy and intravenous medications. Most PIVCs were fitted by registered veterinary nurses.
There were complications following a PIVC placement in 26.7 per cent of cases, the most common of these being limb swelling/suspected phlebitis and PIVC dislodgement.
The risks of PIVC placements were increased where there was more than one attempt to place a PIVC or the catheter was not the first to be placed. Risks were also higher where flushing had taken place at irregular time intervals or it had been flushed with compound sodium lactate.
The study also revealed that, in one third of cases, proper hand hygiene was not performed before the procedure.
The researchers have now stressed the importance of hand hygiene before attempting PIVC placement, as well as preparing the skin with a minimum of two per cent chlorhexidine. Patients with a PIVC should also be closely monitored, especially where a patient was at increased complication risk.
Chris Scudder, author of the study, said: "It was fantastic to be part of a motivated team who wanted to improve our understanding about PIVC complications.
“Our ambition is to ultimately decrease the adverse consequences of PIVC use in small animal practice, which in turn will hopefully improve the welfare of the pets we look after and reduce the prescription of antibiotics to manage catheter-related infections."
The full study can be found in the Journal of Small Animal Practice.
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Veterinary practices are being urged to help owners safely dispose of any unused and expired pet medicines - not just antibiotics - during November's Animal Medicines Amnesty. 
