Implanted right atrial catheters for continuous infusion of solutions into dogs.
Silastic catheters were fabricated and aseptically implanted through the skin into the jugular vein of 64 dogs with the intravascular tip located in the right atrium. Solutions were infused through the catheter at 2 to 2.5 mL/h by a portable pump worn by the dog. Following 9.2 Gy total body irradiation (TBI) and allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT), succinyl acetone, an experimental chemotherapeutic agent, was infused into 34 dogs. Hematopoietic growth factors were infused into an additional 30 dogs, two of which had 9.2 Gy TBI and an autologous BMT, and four of which had 4.0 Gy TBI and no BMT. All dogs received continuous oral and parenteral antibiotics while the catheters were in place. All catheters functioned well until electively removed (n = 28) or until the dogs died or were euthanized (n = 36) at 12 to 68 days after implantation. Mean length of catheter function was 30.3 +/- 1.5 (SEM) days. No catheters were dislodged and there was no evidence of catheter-related blood loss or sepsis. Semiquantitative cultures of 5 catheters were negative, but Staphylococcus epidermidis was isolated from 3 of 7 catheters cultured in broth. Six dogs had thrombosis adjacent to the intravascular catheter tip. The catheters were well tolerated and facilitated successful long-term infusion of solutions into dogs.
Dennis
M B
MB
Department of Comparative Medicine School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle 98195.
Graham
T C
TC
Raff
R F
RF
Jones
D R
DR
Schuening
F
F
Storb
R
R
D000818:Animals; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000209:etiology; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D006325:Heart Atria; D016298:Hematopoietic Cell Growth Factors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007601:Jugular Veins; D008297:Male; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012826:Silicone Elastomers; D013997:Time Factors; D014916:Whole-Body Irradiation / Q000009:adverse effects
D016298:Hematopoietic Cell Growth Factors; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D012826:Silicone Elastomers