Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
New two-catheter method helps catheter placement in small female dogs
By Dornbusch, Josephine A et al.·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·2023·College of Veterinary Medicine, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: A novel two-catheter method for urethral catheterization improves success rates of urethral catheterization in female dogs and cats weighing less than ten kilograms.
Plain-English summary
A group of 38 female cats and dogs weighing less than 10 kg needed urinary catheters placed for medical reasons. Researchers compared two methods: the traditional single-catheter technique and a new two-catheter method. The two-catheter method was more successful, with a success rate of about 60.5% compared to 34.2% for the traditional method. This new approach was particularly helpful for inexperienced staff, as most of them succeeded in placing the catheter using the two-catheter method. This technique could make it easier to place catheters in small pets, especially when the person placing it has less experience.
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To compare the success rates for urethral catheterization in clinical patients using the traditional and 2-catheter techniques when placed by personnel of all experience levels. ANIMALS: 38 female cats and dogs weighing less than 10 kg were prospectively enrolled. METHODS: Enrolled animals were randomized to have a urethral catheter placed by the traditional technique or the 2-catheter method under sedation or general anesthesia. Any qualified hospital personnel of any experience level were allowed to place the catheter. If after 5 minutes the animal was not successfully catheterized, the alternate method was performed. The previous experience of the catheter placer, animal signalment, animal condition that necessitated catheter placement, time to successful placement, and which technique was successful was recorded. RESULTS: The 2-catheter technique was more successful than the traditional method (60.5% and 34.2%, respectively) for urethral catheterization when used by a variety of hospital personnel. The 2-catheter technique was successful in 63.3% of dogs and 66.6% of cats, while the traditional method was successful in 36.6% of dogs and 33.3% of cats. Eight of 9 (88.9%) novice catheter placers that placed their first urinary catheter in this study succeeded with the 2-catheter technique and only 1 was successful with the traditional method. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The 2-catheter technique has a higher rate of success for placement of female urinary catheters in small patients that are unable to have concurrent digital palpation. This technique may also be helpful in the inexperienced catheter placer population to aid in guidance into the urethral papilla.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37586697/