Catheter stuck in vein

Re: Catheter stuck in vein

Emma Dillon — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 17:12:51 GMT

I saw this happen at my first practice when I was training. We had a locum who decided to take out a catheter on her own, and the dog struggled and she slipped, it was awful she was so upset and it could have happened to any one of us.

Sadly no such luck recovering it, it was lost in the dog. It eventually came to rest in the lung. The head vet called god knows who, one of the official bodies? They said if it came to rest in a lung it would go no further and would be unlikely to pose any risk, and the dog could live very happy with it there in the lung, so he had a very awkward conversation with the owner to explain and the dog went home. Never came back with any problems, but it was a bloody scary experience.

Re: Catheter stuck in vein

les punton — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 22:03:10 GMT

it did happen at our practice once - not to me thankfully! I couldnt understand how it happened. I alway cut the tape round the back. the vet did not actually own up to it she, removed the catheter and commented that it looked shorter (not by much i might add), we miked it down the vein and got when it poked out.

It always made me wary of it.

Re: Catheter stuck in vein

scubamoo — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 12:50:49 GMT

Hi There

I have seen this happen twice.... once the vet cut down and got the piece out, the second time was when another vn tried to remove loads of tape as soon as it happened the vein was occluded but couldn't get the fragment. We ended up speaking to the VDS regading notifying owner - they have never heard of it ever causing a problem.

Re: Catheter stuck in vein

Mary Lyle — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 10:29:13 GMT

All our catheters have wings on them and we always use alcohol to loosen of the sticky tape.

We have had problems with catheters bending back on themselves when try to insert. This only happened with the cheap ones now we only use Braun.

Re: Catheter stuck in vein

fairy — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 23:02:15 GMT

It happened in our practice about a month ago. The cat chewed through the catheter. It was a nightmare. We had to sedate the cat and draw it out with a sterilised pair of tweezers. We couldn't imagine that it could still be in in the vein. We were searching the bed, the bandage, the cat's mouth.

Re: Catheter stuck in vein

Kerry Spain — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 23:58:55 GMT

I just tend to unravel tape and bandaging materials it takes a bit longer but I've seen a few mishaps over the years, so for the sake of 'waxing' a few hairs out I feel more comfortable

Re: Catheter stuck in vein

Kim Buckley — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 21:55:12 GMT

I've seen this happen before in a practice where I was on placement as a student. It was done by one of the senior nurses!!!! Luckily she managed to grab it before it could go anyway.

Re: Catheter stuck in vein

Gillian Mostyn — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 20:21:51 GMT

True!

Re: Catheter stuck in vein

Nick Shackleton — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 20:17:37 GMT

For the kitty cats we use the blue soft fabric buster collars. In my opinion some cats are the worst offenders

Personally also I'd rather have a slightly depressed animal than a dead one from an embolism. When there is time that you can spend with the patient without the collar on ie feeding time, grooming, during exercise etc.....

Re: Catheter stuck in vein

Gillian Mostyn — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 20:15:12 GMT

I do know what you mean - you are erring on the side of caution - but some animals, especially cats, get so miserable and depressed with collars on. You can usually tell the type that will chew it anyway.

Re: Catheter stuck in vein

Nick Shackleton — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 19:56:48 GMT

ALL our inpatients with IV in have buster collars on as routine for this reason

Re: Catheter stuck in vein

chris beasley — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 19:51:32 GMT

[quote user="SaskiaVN"]

[quote user="Mrs Dot Dot"]

[/quote]

I know what you are saying Mrs D, I had neve heard of it until I read it here lastnight, just found it strange that such a thing could happen

[/quote] Have only heard of it happening - Dog chewed out catheter + dressing overnight.!

Re: Catheter stuck in vein

Snowb — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 17:58:30 GMT

I've only heard of this happening once myself, not present at the time, but happened to a vet student. I know it generally happens to the junior members of staff, but maybe its the ones that are training and teaching that are at fault here, a little too, we are the ones that should be guiding and advising and a 'little scare story' at the begining, the first time someone removes/places a cannular for the first time would go a long way in preventing this type of thing happening.

And even mentioning it to 'old timers'/experience members when you see them cut too close without blunt dissecting or taking enough care my words are always "You'r very brave doing that" which tends to them taking a moment and thinking the situation through.

And yes if you dont catch the tip it can be very dangerous, or cause no problems at all, but always best not to do it in the first place!

Re: Catheter stuck in vein

ginny — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 17:36:27 GMT

Saskia, i'm so glad you posted (sorry can't work out the posting quote bit!). I couldn't understand how someone could cut through a catheter either!!

Did hear of it happening once in a previous practice - the nurse was one of those younger know everything types. Don't know what happened but the vet had kittens! Spent hours ringing experts at colleges for advice. I did once have a rottie eat through his catheter, we never found the tip.....

Re: Catheter stuck in vein

Nick Shackleton — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 13:37:47 GMT

[quote user="Maisy"]

Was told a couple of weeks ago on a CPD course about this happening with a jugular catheter.....

[/quote]

It has also been known for the guide wire of the jugular catheter to slip in too!!!!

Re: Catheter stuck in vein

Maisy — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 13:35:54 GMT

Was told a couple of weeks ago on a CPD course about this happening with a jugular catheter.....

Re: Catheter stuck in vein

Dreamcatcher — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 13:32:30 GMT

EEEK! I heard this happening to a 'friend of a friend' only a week or so ago... seems to be a more common scenario than I first thought! I've always just soaked the tape with spirit and peeled it off... mostly because I was worried about cutting the animals skin... but this is definately something to bear in mind! Scary to think of how easy it is for things to go wrong. :-(

Re: Catheter stuck in vein

Anonymous — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 12:46:18 GMT

[quote user="StephB"]

I always do this. I would rather them lose a little hair than me cut through the cath!

[/quote]

where did my quote go?? that sounds weird with out it! I was saying I always cut down the back or the side to I don't have the scissors anywhere near the cath.

Re: Catheter stuck in vein

Nick Shackleton — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 11:54:33 GMT

[quote user="frog and cat mad!"]

[quote user="Caro Laithwaite"]

HUH!! l thought wednesday was the 14th and the all day meeting and Steph was Liverpool the 15th Thursday not tue and wednesday!!! HELPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP

[/quote]

LOL Caro......nope Tues is def the 14th, and Wed is def the 15th!!!!! You got the dates right just wrong days !!! Has your brain cell been going awol again?????

[/quote]

Yup tues the 14th CPD at Manc airport might just jump on a plane somewhere lol

Re: Catheter stuck in vein

Nick Shackleton — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 11:52:39 GMT

[quote user="frog and cat mad!"]

STRVN: when you have people around like our anaesthetists who dont care how much tape or what sort they use on the patients you really have to cut up it lol They dont care cos they dont have to take it out when the patient is awake!!!!!

[/quote]

Yeah kno wot you mean Steph!!! with Naughty Matt about the place hehe

Re: Catheter stuck in vein

Steph Worsley — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 11:50:09 GMT

[quote user="Caro Laithwaite"]

HUH!! l thought wednesday was the 14th and the all day meeting and Steph was Liverpool the 15th Thursday not tue and wednesday!!! HELPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP

[/quote]

LOL Caro......nope Tues is def the 14th, and Wed is def the 15th!!!!! You got the dates right just wrong days !!! Has your brain cell been going awol again?????

Re: Catheter stuck in vein

Saskia Quinn — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 05:32:15 GMT

[quote user="Mrs Dot Dot"]

Saskia.. I know it should never happen, but alot of things should never happen but they do... it was being taken out by a younger nurse who's attitude was always abit casual, but hopefully she learnt from it.

[/quote]

I know what you are saying Mrs D, I had neve heard of it until I read it here lastnight, just found it strange that such a thing could happen

Re: Catheter stuck in vein

Caro Laithwaite VN — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 02:57:45 GMT

HUH!! l thought wednesday was the 14th and the all day meeting and Steph was Liverpool the 15th Thursday not tue and wednesday!!! HELPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP

Re: Catheter stuck in vein

Mrs Dot Dot — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 02:28:46 GMT

I've only seen it done once, a couple of years ago, and I was holding the dog...luckily I just pressed down to stop it moving along and we managaed to milk it out and grab it with a pair of forceps. It's one of those potentially really scary situations that you always hear about...if /when it happens to you, it only happens once!

Re: Catheter stuck in vein

Anonymous — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 00:34:41 GMT

I always do this. I would rather them lose a little hair than me cut through the cath!