Occasionally, a researcher may find that their systemic blood pressure catheter has migrated out of the abdominal aorta, causing a loss of blood pressure signal. There are a variety of factors that could lead to this outcome and recommendations to help prevent this occurrence in the future.

Vetbond™

• Ensure that the Vetbond™ being used is not old or expired. The properties of this tissue glue change overtime and will change the effectiveness of the glue once it has expired. If the glue does not appear to be effective in holding the catheter in place, it is recommended to discard and replace the bottle of Vetbond™ with a new one.
• It is also recommended to store the Vetbond™ in a desiccator between uses to ensure dry storage conditions.

Moisture

• Once the catheter is inserted into the abdominal aorta, ensure the vessel and catheter are dry prior to applying the Vetbond™. Vetbond™ instantly sets when it is exposed to moisture so if the area is still wet, it will not set to the catheter or vessel.

Process

• Wait for the Vetbond™ to fully dry and confirm adherence of the fiber patch to the catheter prior to moving on to the next steps of the surgery.
• If the fiber patch is not firmly adhered to the catheter, additional Vetbond™ should be applied or another patch may be added to ensure adherence.
• If the Vetbond™ does not appear to be adhering or drying once applied, check to ensure that it is not old or expired as this may change its effectiveness of the Vetbond™.