Force-activated separation devices: a preventive strategy for intravenous line disconnection in canine patients

TL;DR

A study explores using force-activated separation devices to prevent IV line disconnections in dogs, finding they are especially useful for large breeds.

Contribution

The study introduces and evaluates force-activated separation devices in veterinary medicine, particularly for preventing IV line disconnections in canine patients.

Findings

Line disconnections occurred in 44.3% of patients, with large dogs having the highest disconnection rate at 80%.

Improper separations most frequently occurred between the device and the extension set at a rate of 39.7%.

Patient-related causes were more frequent than staff-related ones, highlighting the need for preventive strategies.

Abstract

Intravenous catheters are essential for administering medications and fluid therapy; however, complications such as line disconnection can occur, potentially leading to the discontinuation or delay of treatments. A force-activated separation device (FASD) can be installed between line components to help prevent these complications. Since the FASD has rarely been explored in veterinary settings, a survey of clinicians and clinical applications was conducted to evaluate the necessity, effectiveness, and considerations of this device. The survey revealed that approximately half of the respondents reported line disconnections as occurring “sometimes,” with patient-related causes being significantly more frequent than those caused by medical staff. Respondents noted that replacing a disconnected catheter typically required considerable time and at least two staff members. Despite this, over half of the respondents indicated that no preventive measures were in place. In clinical applications using the FASD, the overall disconnection rate across all patients was 44.3%, with the rate increasing with the patient’s body weight. Large dogs exhibited a disconnection rate of 80% (8 of 10), followed by medium dogs at 55.6% (10 of 18), and small dogs at 31% (13 of 42). Similar to the survey findings, patient-related causes were the most common for line disconnection. Improper separations occurred at a rate of 39.7%, most frequently between the device and the extension set. Line disconnection causes complications, requires manpower and time, and incurs costs. Therefore, preventive strategies are crucial from the perspectives of patients, owners, and clinicians. The FASD can be one of the strategies, particularly in large-breed dogs.

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