Cephalic and Saphenous Vein Catheterization Dog

8/18/2019 Cephalic and Saphenous Vein Catheterization Dog

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The individual holding the leg places the thumb of thesame hand across the dorsum of the limb to occludevenous blood returning from the leg, causing the veinto distend with blood. In some cases the vein will beclearly visable, in other cases you may palpate thedistended vein.

The holder places her thumb firmly on the medial side of the most proximal aspect of thelimb. The thumb is "dragged" to the dorsal aspect of the leg which will "roll" the cephalic veinto the dorsum of the leg. Pressure is applied with the thumb to restrict blood flow returningfrom the distal limb, causing the vein to engorge with blood. The catheter should be placedas distal in the vein as possible. If the catheter is too proximal, its tip will lay at the elbow. Asthe animal withdraws its leg, flow through the catheter may cease. You can catheterize thecephalic vein on the medial side of the limb, at a location distal to the junction of the cephalicand accessory cephalic veins. Before making the puncture, the venipuncturist can lay thethumb of the hand that is holding the leg, adjacent to the vein to reduce vein movement when

Page 2 of 6Placing a catheter in the cephalic or saphenous vein. Small Animal Diagnostic and Treat ...

08-04-2008http://courses.vetmed.wsu.edu/samdx/cephalic.asp


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Taping a cephalic catheter in place:

it is being punctured.

If the catheter you are using has a solidcap, remove it. Some catheters have"flashback" caps with holes in the centerto allow air in the catheter to be displacedby blood when the venipuncture is made."Flashback" caps may be left on thecatheter when the puncture is made.

Puncture the skin and veinin one swift movement. Ifyou are too gentle, the veinmoves away from thecatheter. Once the vein ispunctured, blood will flowthrough the needle that isinside the catheter.

Move the thumb and forefinger of the hand holding the leg toward each other and grasp theneedle of the catheter, still holding the leg in the same hand. By holding the needle this way,if the patient pulls his leg away from you, the catheter will not be pulled out. Using the otherhand (right hand for a right handed person) gently rotate the catheter off the needle,

advancing the catheter into the vein. As the needle is removed, blood will flow from thecatheter. At this time the holder should remove their thumb from the dorsum of the leg(continuing to hold the leg). If the holder presses firmly over the vein just proximal to the tip ofthe catheter, less blood will flow from the catheter, making the taping procedure less bloody.

After the stylette is removed, aninjection cap is placed and thecatheter is flushed well withsaline or heparinized saline, toassure patency. Dry the leg andthe catheter with gauze beforeapplying tape.

The injection cap should not betaped into the bandage so that itcan be easily removed later.




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Fold over the end of the tape to create a

tab for easier removal.

A second piece of tape placed underthe cap will allow easier removal andreplacement of the cap and preventhair from touching the tip of the

catheter.

The injection cap can be removed for direct connection of a fluid administration set (a) to theIV catheter, or the cap can be left on the catheter and the fluid administration set attachedusing a 20 gauge hypodermic needle inserted through the cap. The administration set is"looped" and taped to the leg (b) . This reduces the chance of accidental removal of thecatheter if the administration set is pulled.




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Saphenous Vein

A hypodermic needle with plasticcover, attached to an injectioncap can be taped to the IV poleor the fluid bag or bottle. Whenfluids are temporarily stopped,the injection cap is placed on theend of the catheter and theneedle with plastic cover isplaced on the end of the IVadministration set to keep the tipof the tubing sterile.

Movement of the leg can occlude fluidflow through the catheter. If needed, asplint such as the pictured Mason-metasplint can be used to keep the limbextended to maintain a constant fluidflow rate. The leg and splint can thenbe bandaged or the splint can be tapedto the leg at both ends, leaving thecatheter exposed. The use of IVinfusion pumps reduces the need tokeep the limb extended. Fluid pumpscan often overcome the resistancecreated by positional changes.




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To place a catheter or obtain blood from the lateral saphenous vein, the animal is positioned inlateral recumbancy. The holder is holding off the vein with her right hand. Some dogs have a

prominant medial saphenous vein which can be catheterized or sampled. To access the medialsaphenous vein, the animal is held in lateral recumbancy but the holder applies pressure on themedial aspect of the leg closest to the table. *

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The technique for placing a catheter in the lateralsaphenous vein of the dog is similar to the technique forcephalic placement. Notice the venipuncturist has

placed her thumb adjacent to the vein to stabilize it.

Revised June 19, 2004 | Printer Friendly Version

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Cephalic and Saphenous Vein Catheterization Dog