Variability in alignment of central venous pressure transducer to physiologic reference point in the intensive care unit–A descriptive and correlational study

BackgroundThe phlebostatic axis is the most commonly used anatomical external reference point for central venous pressure measurements. Deviation in the central venous pressure transducer alignment from the phlebostatic axis causes inadequate pressure readings, which may affect treatment decisions for critically ill patients in intensive care units.AimThe primary aim of the study was to assess the variability in central venous pressure transducer levelling in the intensive care unit. We also assessed whether patient characteristics impacted on central venous pressure transducer alignment deviation.MethodsA sample of 61 critical care nurses was recruited and asked to place a transducer at the appropriate level for central venous pressure measurement. The measurements were performed in the intensive care unit on critically ill patients in supine and Fowler's positions. The variability among the participants using eyeball levelling and a laser levelling device was calculated in both sessions and adjusted for patient characteristics.ResultsA significant variation was found among critical care nurses in the horizontal levelling of the pressure transducer placement when measuring central venous pressure in the intensive care unit. Using a laser levelling device did not reduce the deviation from the phlebostatic axis. Patient characteristics had little impact on the deviation in the measurements.ConclusionThe anatomical external landmark for the phlebostatic axis varied between critical care nurses, as the variation in the central venous pressure transducer placement was not reduced with a laser levelling device. Standardisation of a zero-level for vascular pressures should be considered to reduce the variability in vascular pressure readings in the intensive care unit to improve patient treatment decisions. Further studies are needed to evaluate critical care nurses' knowledge and use of central venous pressure monitoring and whether assistive tools and/or routines can improve the accuracy in vascular pressure measurements in intensive care units.     

Mortality and risk factor analysis for Candida blood stream infection: A multicenter study

Candida blood stream infection (candidemia) is severe systemic infection mainly develops after intensive medical cares. The mortality of candidemia is affected by the underlying conditions, causative agents and the initial management. We retrospectively analyzed mortality-related risk factors in cases of candidemia between April 2011 and March 2016 in five regional hospitals in Japan. We conducted bivariate and multivariate analysis of factors including causative Candida species, patients' predisposing conditions, and treatment strategies, such as empirically selected antifungal drug and time to appropriate antifungal treatment, to elucidate their effects on 30-day mortality. The study enrolled 289 cases of candidemia in adults. Overall 30-day mortality was 27.7%. Forty-nine cases (17.0%) were community-acquired. Bivariate analysis found advanced age, high Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score, and prior antibiotics use as risk factors for high mortality; however community-acquired candidemia, C. parapsilosis candidemia, obtaining follow-up blood culture, and empiric treatment with fluconazole were associated with low mortality. Logistic regression revealed age ≥65 years (adjusted odds ratio, 2.13) and sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score ≥6 (6.30) as risk factors for 30-day mortality. In contrast, obtaining follow-up blood culture (0.38) and empiric treatment with fluconazole (0.32) were found to be protective factors. The cases with candidemia in associated with advanced age and poor general health conditions should be closely monitored. Obtaining follow-up blood culture contributed to an improved prognosis.     

Utility of follow-up blood cultures for Gram-negative rod bacteremia in children

Persistent Gram-negative rod (GNR) bacteremia is uncommon under appropriate antibiotic therapy. A recent study showed that follow-up blood cultures (FUBCs) to confirm clearance 24–48 h after initiation of antibiotics, added little value in the management of GNR bacteremia in adults. However, the utility of FUBC in children is still unknown. We retrospectively reviewed the microbiology database to identify children aged <18 years with GNR bacteremia. Clinical information including gender, age, underlying diseases, presence of central venous line (CVC), source of bacteremia, and organisms was extracted from medical records. FUBCs for 99 episodes of GNR bacteremia in children became positive in 21%, which led to intervention in 57% of the episodes. In multivariate analysis between FUBC positive (n = 21) and negative (n = 78) groups, presence of CVC (n = 18, 86% vs n = 38, 49%, P = 0.001) and resistance to empirical antibiotics (n = 3, 14% vs n = 4, 5%, P = 0.04) were independently associated with positive FUBCs. Interestingly, no positive FUBC was observed in cases due to UTI (n = 13). Contrary to findings in adults, FUBC may still be useful in the management of GNR bacteremia in children.     

中心静脉穿刺置管在大面积烧伤治疗中的应用

对我院近年来收治的大面积烧伤患者进行回顾性病历资料统计。结果发现108例患者应用中心静脉穿刺置管,其中98例(90.7％)经股静脉入路;7例(6.4％)经右锁骨下静脉,3例(3％)经颈内静脉。2例发生气胸,需行胸腔闭式引流。提示中心静脉穿刺置管应用于烧伤病人方便抢救和治疗,但医生和护理人员一定要充分了解其并发症,并且重视一些严重并发症如血管损伤致出血、胸膜损伤致气胸、以及心包填塞、气体栓塞等的预防、诊断和处理。     

经皮经肝肝静脉开通术治疗布加氏综合征

目的：肝静脉阻塞是目前临床治疗的难点，本研究目的是探讨新的安全有效的治疗方法。方法：肝静脉型和混合型布加氏综合征８例，超声引导下，经皮经肝肝静脉穿刺、球囊扩张及内架置入。使闭塞的肝静脉再通．整个操作均在超声监视下进行。结果：术后８例患者原闭塞处肝静脉内径平均达０．８１ｃｍ，平均肝静脉压由３．６７ｋＰａ降至１．３２ｋＰａ（Ｐ＜０．０１）。肝静脉均恢复正向回心血流。短期内病人腹胀、腹水消失，肝脾肿大缓解。观察２．６－１６个月。病情无反复。并发腹腔出血１例，无其它严重并发症。结论：超声引导下经皮肝静脉开通术，操作简便直观，疗效肯定，是肝静脉阻塞安全、合理的非手术治疗方法。     

Comparison of Doppler ultrasonography and the hepatic venous pressure gradient in assessing portal hypertension in liver cirrhosis

BACKGROUND AND AIM: This prospective study aimed to determine whether Doppler ultrasonography can represent the hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) as an assessment of the severity of portal hypertension and the response to terlipressin, which reduces the portal pressure in liver cirrhosis. METHODS: The HVPG and the Doppler ultrasonographic parameters, such as the portal venous velocity and the splenic venous velocity, the pulsatility and the resistive index of the hepatic, splenic and renal arteries were measured in 138 patients with liver cirrhosis. The changes in the HVPG and the portal venous velocity after administering terlipressin were evaluated in 43 of the 138 patients. The patients who showed a reduction in the HVPG of more than 20% of the baseline were defined as responders to terlipressin. RESULTS: None of the Doppler ultrasonographic parameters correlated with the HVPG. Both the HVPG (28.0 +/- 19.8%) and the portal venous velocity (29.7 +/- 13.2%) showed a significant reduction after terlipressin administration. However, the portal venous velocity decreased significantly, not only in the responders (31.0 +/- 12.0%) but also in the non-responders (25.2 +/- 16.4%). CONCLUSIONS: Doppler ultrasonography does not represent the HVPG, and is therefore not suitable for replacing HVPG as a means of assessing the severity of portal hypertension and the response to drugs which reduce the portal pressure in liver cirrhosis.     

Selective coronary angiography via antegrade venous route in congenital cyanotic heart disease

An antegrade venous technique was utilised to perform selective coronary angiography in cyanotic infants and children. The procedure was successful in 88% (37/42) cases and excellent quality angiograms were recorded. The importance of proper catheter selection and details of the technique are discussed. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.