Using cyanoacrylate microbial sealant for skin preparation prior to the placement of intravenous catheters in horses

Venous catheters are extensively used in equine practice. Catheter-related infections are among the most serious complications of equine surgery. Our goal was to compare catheter contamination with and without cyanoacrylate microbial sealant and to evaluate tolerance in horses. Each horse (n = 20) had both jugular grooves clipped (T0). The areas were prepared (T1) either with povidone-iodine (B) or plus cyanoacrylate (InteguSEAL). At T0 and T1, skin swabs were taken. Both jugular veins were catheterized. After 36 hours (T2), catheters were aseptically removed and shipped for microbial culture. At T2 and after 4 weeks (T3), sites were clinically and ultrasonographically evaluated, measuring veins' wall thickness and recording any alteration. No significant differences between groups were detected in microbiological evaluation. The T3 measurements were lower than T2 in both groups. The use of InteguSEAL was not associated with a reduction catheter contamination rates. InteguSEAL use was overall well tolerated.