RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To compare hemostatic variables performed on blood samples obtained from indwelling jugular catheters or direct venipuncture over a 72-hour period. DESIGN: Prospective experimental study. SETTING: University research laboratory. ANIMALS: Five healthy neutered male purpose-bred Beagle dogs. INTERVENTIONS: Each dog was sedated to facilitate placement of a long-stay 20-Ga polyurethane IV catheter into the jugular vein. Blood samples were obtained from the preplaced catheters at 4 time points corresponding to 0, 24, 48, and 72 hours relative to placement. Blood samples were also obtained by direct venipuncture of a peripheral vein using a 21-Ga butterfly catheter and evacuated blood tubes at the same time points. Platelet count, platelet closure time, prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, fibrinogen, and kaolin-activated thromboelastography were performed on these paired samples at each time point. The patency of the indwelling catheters was maintained by flushing every 6 hours with heparinized saline. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: No significant differences were identified in any of the hemostatic variables obtained by either blood collection technique at any time point during the study (P > 0.05). There was also no significant day-to-day variation in any catheter-derived hemostatic variable obtained from individual dogs identified over the course of the study. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that accurate hemostatic variables may be obtained using blood collected from indwelling jugular catheters, maintained with heparinized saline for at least 72 hours, in healthy dogs.
