Research on Blood Sampling in Foals

The push-pull technique is an acceptable method for obtaining blood samples for venous blood gas analysis in foals and avoids repeated needle sticks.

The push-pull technique is an acceptable method for obtaining blood samples for venous blood gas analysis in foals and avoids repeated needle sticks. iStockPhotos.com

This study compared venous blood gas parameters from samples collected by a push-pull technique through a jugular catheter with those sampled by direct jugular venipuncture in 17 hospitalized foals.

The research was titled, “Venous blood gas parameters, electrolytes, glucose and lactate concentration in sick neonatal foals: direct venipuncture versus push-pull technique” and was authored by C. Del Prete, A. Lanci, N. Cocchia, F. Freccero, C. Di Maio, C. Castagnetti, J. Mariella, and F. Micieli.

Three different techniques for drawing a blood sample from a catheter are described: the discard, the reinfusion, and the push-pull methods. The push-pull technique avoids the loss of blood associated with the discard method and reduces the risk of contamination associated with the reinfusion method.

A 10 mL syringe was used to aspirate a volume of blood equal to three times the dead space volume of a 16G catheter and extension set (total 2.4 mL). This was immediately reinfused into the vein without disconnecting the syringe. This procedure was repeated three times before connecting a 1 mL heparinised syringe to collect venous blood. A 20G 1-inch needle and 1 mL syringe were used to obtain a blood sample from the contralateral jugular vein. There was a high level of agreement between the results obtained by the two sampling methods at both 0 and 24 hours for almost all parameters except haematocrit and PVO2 values.

Bottom line: The push-pull technique is an acceptable method for obtaining blood samples for venous blood gas analysis in foals and avoids repeated needle sticks. A manual PCV should be performed in place of haematocrit measurement.

https://beva.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/evj.13332

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