IVFT equipment and catheter placement

Question 1

equipment for administering IVFT?

Answer 1

fluid bag 
giving set 
extension set 
fluid pump or burette
watch/clock with a second hand 
IV catheter in situ

Question 2

equipment for IV catheter placement?

Answer 2

local anaesthetic 
restraint aids and assistant
clippers with sterile and functional blade 
dilute surgical scrub (chlorhexidine)
surgical swabs 
surgical spirit (70%)
tape 
sterile IV catheter 
- SA = 18G - 22G
- EQ = 146 or 16G 
syringe with sterile saline 
bandaging material 
extension set
central line if needed

Question 3

types of extensor sets?

Answer 3

straight extension set
coiled extension set
Y connector
T connector

Question 4

fluid pump vs burette?

Answer 4

fluid pump

• only need calculation up to ml/hour
• does rest for you

burette

• need calculation up to drops
• set yourself using regulator

Question 5

types of catheters?

Answer 5

over the needle

• most common
• catheter on outside of needle
• slightly larger so no leakage

through the needle

• least common
• catheter inside of needle
• catheter smaller so leakage possible

over the wire/Selinger and peel away introducer

• used for placing central lines to cranial vena cava
• for large amounts of fluid quickly
• or administering chemotherapy
• quicker process

Question 6

checks needed before setting up a drip?

Answer 6

what fluid patient requires 
selected correct bag 
expirary date 
packaging for damage 
fluid for sediment

Question 7

setting up a drip?

Answer 7

remove fluid bag from packaging and hang
- drip set or winch
remove giving set from packaging
turn off regulator
remove protective tag from the fluid bag
remove protective cover from stylet on giving set
insert stylet into port of bag
- should stay dry and empty
squeeze chamber
- until 1/2 or 3/4 full
slowly release regulator so giving set fills
close regulator
hang giving set over drip stand ready for use

Question 8

starting a drip?

Answer 8

attach to t connector on patient
set drip rate
- use fluid pump or burettes

Question 9

sites for catheter placement?

Answer 9

jugular vein - often EQ
cephalic vein - SA
saphenous vein - SA
medial/lateral thoracic vein – EQ if jugular failed
marginal ear vein - rabbits
medial metatarsal - birds
ventral tail - reptiles/species with long tails

Question 10

placement of peripheral IV catheter?

small animal

Answer 10

wash hands and wear gloves

prepare catheter site
- clip, scrub and surgical spirit

ask assistant to raise/occlude vein

remove catheter from packaging and protective cover
- aspeptic manner

ensure bevel is facing upwards and insert
- blood should appear in the hub

hold stylet and advance catheter slowly

• should be no resistance
• if is then pull all out and start again

remove stylet and place cap or t connector

secure with tape
- around limb underneath catheter then over

flush with sterile saline

clean any blood away and dry site

bandage catheter in place
- leaving injection port visible

Question 11

placement of central catheter?

equine

Answer 11

wash hands and wear surgical gloves

prepare site
- clip, srub and surgical spirit

inject approx 2ml of local anaesthetic subcutaneously

ask assistant to pass catheter sterilely

inset through at acute angle
- when blood appears reduce angle to 20-30 degrees

advance both catheter and stylet
- until hub reaches skin

remove stylet

flush catheter to confirm patency

secure with sutures

• minimise movement of catheter as horse moves neck
• also suture extension set