Retrospective evaluation of the use of small‐bore wire‐guided catheters for the management of peritoneal effusion in cats and dogs

Abstract

Objective: To describe the use of small-bore wire-guided catheters in the management of peritoneal effusion in cats and dogs and to detail any associated adverse events.Design: Retrospective study. Setting: University teaching hospitalAnimals: Forty-five client-owned animals that had peritoneal catheters placed for management of peritoneal effusion between July 2010 and June 2021. Interventions: None.Measurements and Main Results: Forty-five cases were included (25 dogs and 20 cats). Twenty-eight animals had the catheter placed to aid management of a uroabdomen, 8 of which recovered without surgical management, 11 had the catheter placed to allow autotransfusion of hemoabdomen, 3 had peritonitis, and 3 had ascites secondary to cardiac disease. Twenty-seven cases (15 dogs and 12 cats) received sedation (n = 24) or local anesthesia alone (n = 3) to facilitate catheter placement, and 6 cases had the catheter placed while under general anesthesia. Median length of catheter persistence was 24 hours (range: 2-144 h). The most common adverse events reported were impaired drainage (n = 7) and leakage at the insertion site (n = 4).Conclusions: Peritoneal catheters can be inserted percutaneously for management of peritoneal effusion. Indications include stabilization and conservative management of uroabdomen, and autotransfusion. They can often be placed with minimal or no sedation and adverse events appear infrequent in occurrence.

A small‐bore wire‐guided chest tube for the initial stabilisation of septic uroperitoneum in a dog

“…However, due to the severe clinical condition of the dog at presentation and the evidence of the septic nature of the abdominal effusion, antimicrobial treatment was started and an abdominal percutaneous drain was applied using only local anaesthesia. In the study of Crosby et al., the majority of dogs and cats also required only mild sedation for the placement of an abdominal SBWGCT, while the use of full anaesthesia was necessary in six of 45 cases 8 …”

“…In the study of Crosby et al, the majority of dogs and cats also required only mild sedation for the placement of an abdominal SBWGCT, while the use of full anaesthesia was necessary in six of 45 cases. 8 Different types of drainage catheters have been described in the veterinary literature. They have mainly been reported for peritoneal dialysis or postoperative abdominal drainage, namely, Jackson-Pratt catheters, peritoneal linear or flexed drainage catheters with multiple fenestrations, Penrose or balloon catheters, modified multifenestrated catheters with a Dacron cap to promote adhesion to the peritoneal tissue and the skin, and central line catheters.…”

“…1 It was decided to use an SBWGCT as an abdominal drain, due to the feasibility of percutaneous insertion with only the need for local anaesthesia, and the few correlated complications reported for its use in the thorax and, recently, also in the abdomen. 8,12,13 The SBWGCT should be considered as an option for the drainage of abdominal fluid during initial stabilisation in patients that are critically ill owing to uro-or septic peritoneum.…”

“…1,7 In a recent study, Crosby and colleagues described the use of small-bore wire-guided chest tube (SBWGCT) catheters in dogs and cats for the management of several types of peritoneal effusion, specifically uroperitoneum, haemoabdomen, peritonitis and ascites. 8 The aim of this report was to describe the use of an SBWGCT as a temporary abdominal drain for the initial clinical stabilisation of a dog with septic uroperitoneum.…”

“…Stamey prepubic percutaneous catheters or central venous catheters have previously been used in veterinary medicine and may be applied in an emergency setting using mild sedation together with a local anaesthetic block 1,7 . In a recent study, Crosby and colleagues described the use of small‐bore wire‐guided chest tube (SBWGCT) catheters in dogs and cats for the management of several types of peritoneal effusion, specifically uroperitoneum, haemoabdomen, peritonitis and ascites 8 …”