Multi-Lumen Catheters

In veterinary medicine the typical approach to giving multiple fluid or drug infusions simultaneously has been to "piggy-back" lines together before they reach a common single lumen catheter.

This simple approach can have major disadvantages and the use of a multi-lumen catheter is often preferable for several reasons. There may be pharmaceutical incompatibilities between the solutions being administered, possibly causing inactivation or precipitation of components. It is possible for higher pressure in one infusion line to totally block infusion from another. If potentially toxic drugs such as anaesthetics, sedatives or potent analgesics need to be infused at a constant rate then there is potential for under-dose or a sudden later overdose, when using piggy-backed lines. Any catheter lumen can block during use. Multi-lumen catheters can also offer redundancy, with the opportunity to use a backup channel should there be a blockage at a critical time, for example in theatre.

Vygon Vet offers a wide range of multi-lumen catheters which provide a single I.V. site solution for situations requiring multiple infusions. They can be easily inserted using the Seldinger technique and are supplied in a sterile kit containing all the required items.

Multi-lumen catheters from Vygon Vet:
Multi-cath Forward Kit

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