A minimally invasive catheterization of the external jugular vein in suckling piglets using ultrasound guidance

als.fakia shared this article with you from Inoreader A minimally invasive catheterization of the external jugular vein in suckling piglets using ultrasound guidance Via PLOS ONE Alerts: New Articles by Hauteclaire Furbeyre, Etienne Labussiere There is a growing interest for minimally invasive surgical procedures to improve experimental animal welfare. Minimally invasive catheterization procedures in pigs have been already developed using Seldinger technique but reproducibility is low, especially in young pigs. A novel method for a minimally invasive catheterization of external jugular vein was evaluated in suckling piglets of 21 days of age. Growth performance and haptoglobin concentration in plasma were measured throughout a four-week study in a group of seven catheterized piglets and a group of seven non-catheterized piglets. Catheterization was performed using Seldinger technique under continuous ultrasound monitoring for vein detection and needle insertion. The surgical procedure was quick and showed a great reproducibility. All catheters remained functional during the first week after catheterization. Catheterization in piglets did not significantly affect body weight (BW) and feed intake during four weeks after the surgical intervention compared to non-catheterized piglets (P > 0.10). Haptoglobin concentration in plasma was greater in catheterized piglets compared with non-catheterized piglets, with a significant increase over two weeks after catheter insertion (P View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.