Extravasation injuries in the intravenous therapy with drugs with properties vesicants and irritants in the veterinary medicine of small animals

Abstract

The extravasation injuries are uncommon complications during the administration of intravenous therapy in the small animal veterinary clinic. However, the efflux of drugs with vesicant or irritant properties can cause severe and/or irreversible functional and aesthetic changes. The correct catheterization technique and vigilance during intravenous administration of drugs with vesicant or irritant properties are fundamental in preventing the appearance of iatrogenic injuries. The therapeutic approach to this iatrogenic complication involves the combination of non-pharmacological, pharmacological, and surgical measures. In small animal veterinary medicine, there are no uniform recommendations about the best strategy could be adopted, and the interventions described in the literature lack evidence of effectiveness based on scientific studies.