New implanted chronic catheter device for determining blood pressure and cardiac output in conscious dog

The Vascular-Access-Port (VAP) is a subcutaneous implantable device designed for repeated venous blood sampling in humans. With slight modifications the device has been used in the arterial and venous systems of dogs. This device allows for chronic repeated arterial blood pressure monitoring, monitoring of cardiac outputs, and blood sampling in conscious dogs. Infection, vascular thrombosis, and catheter extraction have not occurred. This modified VAP has been used for 6 mo and in 25 dogs to date without any failure to determine arterial blood pressure and cardiac output.