Peripheral Intravenous Catheter Complications in Hospitalized Cats: An Observational Pilot Study

There is little information about complications associated with peripheral catheter use in cats. The primary objective of this study was to determine the main reason for catheter removal in cats hospitalized in the Intensive Care Unit at a university teaching hospital. The secondary objective was to describe catheter-associated complications in cats hospitalized.

All feline patients with peripheral intravenous catheters admitted to the Intensive Care Unit between June and August 2017 were prospectively enrolled in this study. All catheters were evaluated at least 3 times a day per institutional Intensive Care Unit protocol. The catheters were monitored throughout the cat's hospitalization period for development of complications, including occlusion, phlebitis and extravasation. Data collected included patient signalment, reason for hospitalization, catheter size and location, number of hours the catheter remained in place, reason for removal and if the catheter was replaced once removed.

Thirty-four cats were enrolled in the study, and a total of 42 catheters were placed in those cats. Median peripheral IV catheter duration was 23.8 hours (interquartile range [IQR] 13.8-41.3 hours). The most frequent reason for catheter removal was patient discharge from the hospital (24/42, 57.1%). Overall catheter complication rate was 21.4% (9/42). Complications observed included phlebitis, extravasation, patient removal, occlusion, and edema formation.

The results of this study conclude that the majority of peripheral IV catheters in cats are removed due to discharge from hospitalization. More studies with a larger population of cats are needed to see if there is a relationship between length of indwelling catheterization and risk of catheter-associated complications.