I.V Injection & Blood Collection

Total blood volume in cats and dogs?

Cats- 60ml/kg

Dogs- 80 ml/kg

What are the 5 venipuncture sites?

• cephalic vein

• Jugular vein

• Lateral saphenous vein (dogs)

• Medial saphenous vein (cats)

• Lingual vein (emergency)

What are 5 things that “Vein Selection” depends on?

• tech preference

• Accessibility

• Patient tolerance

• Patient size

• Volume of blood required

What are 5 “Venipuncture Complications?”

1. Hematoma

2. Peri vascular injection (Leading to irritation/necrosis)

3. Phlebitis (inflammation of vein)

4. Thrombosis (Formation of blood clot)

5. Overdose of injectable drug

What are 4 advantages of vacationer system?

• rapid collection

• Vials contain specific anticoagulants in correct dilution fir volume of tube

• Sample transfer not required

• Preferred system for blood cultures

Disadvantages of vacutainer system? (4)

• can collapse small diameter veins

• Excessive dilution of sample with anticoagulant if tube not filled completely

• Needles can be dull

• Initially the transfer of tubes requires greater proficiency

What are advantages to ‘Needle and Syringe Method” of blood collection?

• good for small amounts

• Needles are sharper

• Can control blood flow to prevent collapse veins

What are disadvantages of “Needle and Syringe Method”?

• blood must be transferred from syringe to vacuum tube

• Improper transfer technique can hemolyze sample

• Sterility is questionable when doing blood cultures

Costs from needle syringe vs. Vacutainer

Vacutainer system is cheaper by about 20 cents

6 factors affecting venipuncture?

• lighting

• Equipment

• Environment

• Height

• Positioning

• State of mind

(Anatomical location, vein prep, vein occlusion)

How to aid visualization of vein on the limb? (3)

• pump paw

• Flex carpus

• Apply alcohol

How to aid in visualization of jugular vein? (4)

• release occlusion

• Occlude both jugulars

• Milk blood down to occlusion

• Palpate vein laterally

True or False? Always start distally when collecting blood?

True.

If you create hematoma then you can go up higher

5 reasons for no blood upon collection?

• not in the vein

• Vein is collapsed

• Bevel up against the vein wall

• Blood clot in needle

• Vacuum lost if using vacutainer

5 things to always include when labelling vacutainer tubes?

• animal name

• Animal cage #

• Date

• Species

• Techs initials

4 things to include when writing about the venipuncture in the file?

• date

• Collection site

• Amount collected

• Techs initials