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Accidental intraarterial propofol injection in a dog
Francisco Medina-Bautista1, Rocío Navarrete-Calvo2, María Del Mar Granados2
1Section Anaesthesiology, Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain.
Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia
|February 22, 2025
Summary
Veterinary medication errors, specifically wrong-route drug delivery, can be prevented. Implementing mandatory intraarterial catheter labeling and improving communication significantly reduced medication errors in anesthesia.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Anesthesia
- Medication Safety
Background:
- Medication errors are common in veterinary medicine, with incorrect drug administration routes accounting for 8% of cases.
- A healthy dog undergoing elbow surgery experienced an anesthesia-related medication error.
Observation:
- Propofol was inadvertently injected into an intraarterial catheter instead of an intravenous line.
- The error occurred due to misidentification of the catheter port during anesthesia monitoring.
Findings:
- The intraarterial propofol injection resulted in only a minor decrease in heart rate.
- Contributing factors included individual distraction, unusual catheter placement, personnel shortages, and unclear labeling protocols.
Implications:
- Mandatory labeling of intraarterial catheters immediately after placement is crucial.
- Enhanced interdisciplinary communication between anesthesia and surgery teams can prevent similar errors.
