Point-of-Care Ultrasound-Guided Versus Conventional Peripheral Vascular Access in Dogs Presented to an Emergency Room

To compare conventional (C) and point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS)-guided (P) peripheral catheterization by a single clinician in dogs presenting to the emergency department. The dogs randomly received a peripheral C or P catheter in the cephalic or lateral saphenous vein. The P placement was further randomized to be performed in or out of plane. The success rate, time taken to obtain vascular access, weight, body condition score (BCS), age, shock index (SI), vein catheterized, and technique used were recorded.

Randomized, controlled, prospective clinical study conducted from January to August, 2022.

University teaching hospital.

A total of 102 dogs presenting to an emergency department.

The dogs were of various breeds, 5.9 ± 4.3 years old, weighed 21.9 ± 12.5 kg, with BCS 5.4 ± 1.4. The mean SI was 1.01 ± 0.47. The success rates of catheterizations C (84.6%) and P (73.1%) did not differ (p = 0.15). The median catheter placement time was shorter for C (65 s [43-122]) than for P (96 s [42-180]) (p < 0.001). In smaller dogs (5-15 kg), C had a higher success rate than P (88.0% vs. 61.1%, p = 0.049), but not in larger dogs (>15 kg; C 81.5% and P 79.4%, p = 0.84). BCS and SI did not affect the success rates. The out-of-plane (76.9%) and in-plane (69.2%) success rates did not differ (p = 0.53). After additional P catheterization, a positive slope was identified for the success rate (mean increase of 0.48%, p < 0.0001), suggesting a learning effect, which was confirmed for the out-of-plane technique (average 1.4% increase per placement, p < 0.0001).

P and C catheter placement had similar success despite the suggested learning curve for the out-of-plane technique.