Friendly Banter Between Colleagues on IV Catheter Care

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Free for Elite Members

June 2025

In today’s VETgirl online veterinary continuing education podcast, Amanda M. Shelby, RVT, VTS (Anesthesia & Analgesia) and Dr. Amy Kaplan-Zattler, cVMA, DACVECC, MRCVS discuss all things IV catheter placement and care. Tune in to hear about Dr. Kaplan and Amanda’s talk about their findings and preference on catheter flush frequency, heparin or non-hepatized saline for flush, aseptic scrub techniques and more!

Read more about best practices for aseptic skin preparation for IV catheter placement HERE.

References:

1. Stull JW, Bjorvik E, Bub J, et al. 2018 AAHA Infection Control, Prevention, and Biosecurity Guidelines. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc 2018;54(6):297-326.
2. Stinner DJ, Krueger CA, Masini BD, Wenke JC. Time-dependent effect of chlorhexidine surgical prep. J Hosp Infect 2011;79(4):313-6.
3. Bajaj TI, Loh C, Borgstrom D. Diluting chlorhexidine gluconate: one scrub or two? Surg Infect (Larchmt) 2014;15(5):544-7.
4. O’Grady NP, Alexander M, Burns LA, et al. Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC). Guidelines for the prevention of intravascular catheter-related infections. Clin Infect Dis 2011;52(9):e162-93.
5. Crisi PE, De Santis F, Aste G, et al. Inflammatory, Mechanical and Infectious Complications Associated with Peripheral Intravenous Catheters in Dogs and Cats: A Risk Factor Analysis. Vet Sci 2022;6;9(3):118.
6. Simpson SE, Zersen KM. Incidence and type of peripheral intravenous catheter complications documented in hospitalised dogs. J Small Anim Pract 2023;64:130-135.
7. Hagley MJ, Hopper K, Epstein SE. Characteristics of arterial catheter use and related complications in dogs and cats in an intensive care unit. J Vet Emerg and Crit Care. 2021;31(4):469-75.
8. Warne LN, Bauquier SH, Pengelly J, Neck D, Swinney G. Standards of care: Anaesthesia guidelines for dogs and cats. Aus Vet J. 2018;96(11).
9. Schallom ME, Prentice D, Sona C, et al. Heparin or 0.9% sodium chloride to maintain central venous catheter patency: A randomized trial. Crit Care Med. 2012;40:1820–6
10. Matula E, Mastrocco A, Prittie J, et al. Microorganism colonization of peripheral venous catheters in a small animal clinical setting. J Vet Emerg Crit Care. 2023;33(5):509-519.

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