Canine Intravenous Catheterization, Aseptic Open Gloving, and Microchip Implantation

Flashcards covering canine intravenous catheterization types, complications, management, aseptic open gloving, and microchip implantation.

Butterfly Catheter

A short-term intravenous catheter consisting of a steel needle with flexible wings attached to thin extension tubing.

Butterfly Catheter Advantages

Has the lowest incidence of local infection, is easy to insert, and is ideal for small patients, anesthetized patients, and numerous short-term injections.

Butterfly Catheter Disadvantages

Requires constant supervision, is difficult to stabilize, and can puncture or lacerate the vessel wall.

Over the Needle Catheter

An IV catheter mounted directly over a pre-lubricated needle stylet, which is the most versatile and daily-used catheter type in practice.

Over the Needle Catheter Advantages

Inexpensive, easier to stabilize, available in many gauges and lengths, does not require constant supervision, and causes minimal perivascular bleeding.

Over the Needle Catheter Disadvantages

Contaminates easily, is difficult to stabilize in large vessels, and is hard to maintain past 48 hours due to risk of compromising blood flow and causing phlebitis.

Through the Needle Catheter

An IV catheter placed by inserting the catheter line through the inside of a venipuncture needle, commonly placed in the jugular vein.

Through the Needle Catheter Advantages

Easiest to maintain for extended periods if sterile technique is used, and often placed in the jugular vein to avoid areas of flexion in the leg.

Through the Needle Catheter Disadvantages

Expensive, difficult to place, carries risk of life-threatening complications if mispositioned, and causes perivascular bleeding because the needle hole is larger than the catheter.

Central Venous Pressure (C.V.P.)

A clinical monitoring parameter demonstrated using through-the-needle jugular catheters in nursing rotation practice.

Catheter Cut Down (Peephole)

A minor surgical relief incision made to help visualize the vein and prevent needle dulling, especially in dehydrated, shocky, or thick-skinned patients.

Short-Term Catheter Use

Catheter placement requiring tape only (no full bandage), used for surgery, outpatient fluid therapy, or administering irritating drugs.

Long-Term Catheter Bandage

A bandage placed over an IV catheter applied from the toes upward, incorporating the administration IV set as required.

Indications for Catheter Bandaging

High probability of soiling, patient attempt at catheter removal, serious illness, jugular catheter stability, or when patients are left unattended.

Splinting an IV Catheter

The use of a supportive splint to keep the limb straight if an animal's movements kink off the vein or catheter.

Main Goals of Catheter Management

1. Maintain a patent catheter. 2. Prevent sepsis.

Patient Complication: Clotting Deficiencies

A condition requiring avoidance of through-the-needle catheters and placement in large blood vessels.

Patient Complication: Dyspnea

A patient condition where jugular vein venipuncture must be avoided to prevent respiratory distress.

Patient Complication: Low Blood Pressure

A patient state where the technician must occlude the vein during preparation and consider using a cut-down (peephole) for placement.

Flaring (Catheter Complication)

An over-the-needle catheter complication where the catheter tip peels back during skin entry, associated with thin catheter material, dehydration, or thick skin.

Accordioning (Catheter Complication)

An over-the-needle catheter complication where the catheter pleats between the skin puncture and hub, prevented by ensuring proper seating in the vessel before advancing.

Spearing (Catheter Complication)

A technical error caused by attempting to replace or reinsert the stylet back into the catheter, slicing the catheter wall.

Ideal Features of an Over the Needle Catheter

Sharp needle on stylet, short catheter-to-bevel distance, radiopaque material, direct hub-to-set attachment, blood visualization in stylet, and ideal thickness for flexibility without flaring.

Air Embolism

A vascular complication caused by air being inadvertently injected or drawn into the intravenous system.

Thrombosis

The formation of a blood clot at its site of origin within a vessel, induced by mechanical or chemical irritants and phlebitis.

Thromboembolism

A blood clot that dislodges from its site of origin and travels through the vascular system, diagnosed by physical examination.

Clinical Signs of Arterial Occlusion

Paralysis, pain, hypothermia of the limb, cyanosis, and absence of a pulse.

Clinical Signs of Venous Occlusion

Variable clinical signs depending on anatomical location and vein length, often mitigated by collateral circulation.

Local Sepsis Signs

Redness, heat, pain, and swelling at the catheter site when a vessel becomes involved in an inflammatory process.

Phlebitis

Inflammation of a vein caused by mechanical or chemical irritants, or by non-aseptic technique during catheterization.

Phlebitis Management

Culturing the catheter tip to determine effective antibiotics and flushing the catheter thoroughly after injecting irritating substances.

Catheter Embolus

A dangerous situation where a piece of catheter breaks off into the blood vessel, caused by spearing, cutting during removal, or patient removal attempts.

Catheter Embolus Prevention

Use radiopaque material, measure catheter before and after placement, avoid flexion areas, fit hub tight to skin, and NEVER use scissors directly over the catheter.

Daily Catheter Care Schedule

Change dressing q 24 hours, change IV bags before 48 hours, replace IV tubing every 48–72 hours, and replace catheters every 48–72 hours (6–7 days for through-the-needle).

Catheter Reinsertion Rule

A strict safety principle stating that a catheter that has slipped out must NEVER be reinserted into the patient.

Open Gloving

An aseptic technique used to don sterile gloves for minor procedures or glove changes without wearing a sterile gown.

Non-Gowned Open Gloving Indications

Minor medical procedures not requiring a sterile surgical gown, such as mass removal, fine needle aspirates, and wound debridement.

Intra-Operative Open Gloving Indications

Replacing gloves mid-surgery due to glove punctures/cuts, contamination, or dirty procedures like foreign body surgeries or C-sections.

Open Gloving Hand Preparation

Removal of all jewelry (rings, watch), opening the outer package, washing and drying hands, and unfolding paper wrapper to reveal gloves.

Microchip Implantation Site

The subcutaneous area located directly between the shoulder blades of the animal.

Microchip Pre-Implantation Steps

Shave and apply EMLA cream (if non-sedated), then scan the microchip and scan the patient to ensure no pre-existing microchip is present.

Microchip Insertion Technique

Tent skin between shoulder blades, wipe with alcohol, place needle at base of tent, insert in one quick motion, and depress plunger.

Microchip Post-Implantation Steps

Release skin tent, apply pressure at injection site upon needle removal, scan injection site to confirm placement, and record all numbers.

Colony Coordinator Microchip Routine

Assign microchip tag, put sticker and tag number on mastersheet and daily log, and return remaining stickers and tags to Colony Coordinators.

Patient Complication: Limb Edema

Limb swelling caused by heart or kidney disease that mandates avoiding that specific limb for catheter placement.