Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

Background: In small animal healthcare fluid therapy is an important area. To get an adequate treatment there are several factors that may play important roles in this matter. One of these factors is the correct use of the administration technique.

Aim: The aim was to investigate how correct the amount of prescribed fluid was given when different people set up a fluid administration set.

Method: An experimental study was performed to compare two different infusion techniques. The test examined how the prescribed fluid was distributed using two specific infusion sets, operated by veterinary nurses. In total 20 veterinary nurse students from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences in Skara were volunteers in this study, and each student performed setting of a macro drip set and a micro drip set, respectively.

Results: The results showed that the students on average give an infusion that corresponds with the prescription. However, the results also show that the range of the set rations had a standard deviation of 13.4 ml for macro drip set and 14.8 ml for the micro drip set.

Conclusion: It is important to adapt the administration technique to the clinical situation. If it is essential that the animal receive an accurate infusion, other infusion techniques then the macro drip set or the micro drip set should be considered.