Skin Buttons - an alternative method for fluid therapy

Re: Skin Buttons - an alternative method for fluid therapy

Martin Atkinson — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 19:37:40 GMT

[quote user="Laurence Webb"]

Does the needle need to be held against the disc when adminstering fluids or does it grip enough for you to it then leave it whilst fluids run in?

[/quote]

As you push the blunt accessing needle through the port there is sort of click and a feeling of it giving a little but the port will grip the needle. I'm not sure if you're envisaging a drip pack attached and allowing gravitational flow, I've only ever used and advised a syringe. Once clicked in the syringe can be emptied without continued pressure to hold it in the the port although some restraint is obviously needed to stop the patient wriggling and the whole thing pulling out while you're holding onto it (I doubt it would stick well enough for you to chase the cat round the room while trying to depress the plunger)! But there is little resentment from the cat other than the need for restraint and as said before the cats will tolerate relatively large volumes as the sub cut tissue rapidly breaks down and stretches to accomodate it.

Re: Skin Buttons - an alternative method for fluid therapy

Laurence Webb — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 18:56:32 GMT

I've used the Dechra Endo-sof subcutaneous catheter (http://dechra-eu.com/Default.aspx?ID=131) in my own cat who was a dreadful wriggler and wouldn't stay still to administer s/c fluids. It made things a lot easier as I could just attach a giving set and run fluids in whilst he wriggled around on a lap or on a chair. I can't remember the cost but I think it was around £20-£30.

One downside is having a catheter hub sticking out of the skin - it didn't cause any problems in my cat but I could imagine problems with it getting snagged when they're out and about. The sutures could fray or break with time too. Other than these potential problems, it worked really well and I'd recommend it to owners who are reticent about giving s/c fluids.

As the button sits flush with the skin and doesn't require sutures once it's healed in I can see this being a step forward. Does the needle need to be held against the disc when adminstering fluids or does it grip enough for you to it then leave it whilst fluids run in?

Re: Skin Buttons - an alternative method for fluid therapy

Martin Atkinson — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 16:53:27 GMT

They're £40+VAT for a kit including the button, the skin punches and a handful of accessing needles. You can re-use the accessing needles as they are blunt and you can buy boxes of 50 as replacements. The punches are also re-useable as biopsy punches as a bonus! You use the punch to literally punch a hole in the skin, feed the flange of the button through and suture in place - a very simple 5 minute job. One tip if you do get one, try the small punch first, it seems too small but the button squeezes through easily. I don't have any experience of long term use hence the last line in the OP but so long as you keep using it I can't see why it shouldn't remain functional for weeks even months unless the valve breaks through constant usage.

Re: Skin Buttons - an alternative method for fluid therapy

salome2001 — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 15:19:13 GMT

a really interesting post Martin. I'd never heard of them but I'd be keen to try them on CRF kitties with the right owners (the type who are already happy to give SC fluids at home).

Any idea how much they cost, how long they last before needing to be replaced and how technical the implantation surgery is???