Andreas Pikwer

Complications associated with peripheral or central routes for central venous cannulation.

We undertook a review of studies comparing complications of centrally or peripherally inserted central venous catheters. Twelve studies were included. Catheter tip malpositioning (9.3% vs 3.4%, p = 0.0007), thrombophlebitis (78 vs 7.5 per 10 000 indwelling days, p = 0.0001) and catheter dysfunction (78 vs 14 per 10 000 indwelling days, p = 0.04) were more common with peripherally inserted catheters than with central catheter placement, respectively. There was no difference in infection rates. We found that the risks of tip malpositioning, thrombophlebitis and catheter dysfunction favour clinical use of centrally placed catheters instead of peripherally inserted central catheters, and that the two catheter types do not differ with respect to catheter‐related infection rates.

Clinical guidelines on central venous catheterisation

Safe and reliable venous access is mandatory in modern health care, but central venous catheters (CVCs) are associated with significant morbidity and mortality, This paper describes current Swedish guidelines for clinical management of CVCs The guidelines supply updated recommendations that may be useful in other countries as well. Literature retrieval in the Cochrane and Pubmed databases, of papers written in English or Swedish and pertaining to CVC management, was done by members of a task force of the Swedish Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine. Consensus meetings were held throughout the review process to allow all parts of the guidelines to be embraced by all contributors. All of the content was carefully scored according to criteria by the Oxford Centre for Evidence‐Based Medicine. We aimed at producing useful and reliable guidelines on bleeding diathesis, vascular approach, ultrasonic guidance, catheter tip positioning, prevention and management of associated trauma and infection, and specific training and follow‐up. A structured patient history focused on bleeding should be taken prior to insertion of a CVCs. The right internal jugular vein should primarily be chosen for insertion of a wide‐bore CVC. Catheter tip positioning in the right atrium or lower third of the superior caval vein should be verified for long‐term use. Ultrasonic guidance should be used for catheterisation by the internal jugular or femoral veins and may also be used for insertion via the subclavian veins or the veins of the upper limb. The operator inserting a CVC should wear cap, mask, and sterile gown and gloves. For long‐term intravenous access, tunnelled CVC or subcutaneous venous ports are preferred. Intravenous position of the catheter tip should be verified by clinical or radiological methods after insertion and before each use. Simulator‐assisted training of CVC insertion should precede bedside training in patients. Units inserting and managing CVC should have quality assertion programmes for implementation and follow‐up of routines, teaching, training and clinical outcome. Clinical guidelines on a wide range of relevant topics have been introduced, based on extensive literature retrieval, to facilitate effective and safe management of CVCs.

Management of inadvertent arterial catheterisation associated with central venous access procedures.

OBJECTIVE This study aims to describe the clinical management of inadvertent arterial catheterisation after attempted central venous catheterisation. METHODS Patients referred for surgical or endovascular management for inadvertent arterial catheterisation during a 5-year period were identified from an endovascular database, providing prospective information on techniques and outcome. The corresponding patient records and radiographic reports were analysed retrospectively. RESULTS Eleven inadvertent arterial (four common carotid, six subclavian and one femoral) catheterisations had been carried out in 10 patients. Risk factors were obesity (n=2), short neck (n=1) and emergency procedure (n=4). All central venous access procedures but one had been made using external landmark techniques. The techniques used were stent-graft placement (n=6), percutaneous suture device (n=2), external compression after angiography (n=1), balloon occlusion and open repair (n=1) and open repair after failure of percutaneous suture device (n=1). There were no procedure-related complications within a median follow-up period of 16 months. CONCLUSIONS Inadvertent arterial catheterisation during central venous cannulation is associated with obesity, emergency puncture and lack of ultrasonic guidance and should be suspected on retrograde/pulsatile catheter flow or local haematoma. If arterial catheterisation is recognised, the catheter should be left in place and the patient be referred for percutaneous/endovascular or surgical management.

Early Surgical Results After Pneumonectomy for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer are not Affected by Preoperative Radiotherapy and Chemotherapy

BACKGROUND Higher operative risks after pneumonectomy for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have been reported after neoadjuvant chemotherapy or radiotherapy, or both. Patients who underwent pneumonectomy for NSCLC were evaluated for effect of neoadjuvant treatment on mortality and morbidity, especially bronchopleural fistula. METHODS Between 1996 and 2003, 130 consecutive patients underwent pneumonectomy: 35 received preoperative radiotherapy and chemotherapy (the neoadjuvant group), and 95 patients did not (the first-surgery group). Operative mortality and postoperative complications were compared between the groups. RESULTS Minor postoperative complications were comparable in both groups (p > 0.10). Five patients in the neoadjuvant group and 10 in the first-surgery group had serious complications (p = 0.55). Eight had bronchopleural fistulas (7 right and 1 left, p < 0.01); 3 were in the neoadjuvant group (p = 0.49). Three fistulas required reoperation. One patient in the first-surgery group died within 30 days postoperatively. Duration of symptoms (hazard ratio, 6.6; p = 0.01) and right-sided pneumonectomy (hazard ratio, 2.4; p = 0.05) were associated with an increased risk of bronchopleural fistula. Induction treatment, postoperative radiotherapy, or coverage of the bronchial stump did not increase the risk of bronchopleural fistulation. Survival at 1 and 5 years was comparable for the neoadjuvant and first-surgery groups: 74% and 46% vs 72% and 34%, respectively (p > 0.2). CONCLUSIONS Pneumonectomy is a safe procedure with low operative mortality. Postoperative morbidity is significant, especially bronchopleural fistulas after right-sided pneumonectomy (11%). However, neither operative mortality nor morbidity appears to be directly associated with preoperative radiotherapy or chemotherapy.

Routine chest X-ray is not required after a low-risk central venous cannulation.

Background: Knowledge of the radiographic catheter tip position after central venous cannulation is normally not required for short‐term catheter use. Detection of a possible iatrogenic pneumothorax may nevertheless justify routine post‐procedure chest X‐ray. Our aim was to design a clinical decision rule to select patients for radiographic evaluation after central venous cannulation.

Pulmonary sequestration--a review of 8 cases treated with lobectomy.

Background and Aims: Pulmonary sequestration (PS) is a rare congenital malformation where non-functioning lung tissue is separated from the bronchial tree and vascularised with an aberrant artery from the systemic circulation. The aim of this report was to study all patients who were treated for PS at Lund University Hospital between 1994 and 2004, with emphasis on clinical presentation of the disease and evaluate the results of surgical treatment. Material and Methods: 8 cases were identified, 7 females and one male, with a mean age of 7.3 years (range 25 days — 17 years) at the time of diagnosis. Results: Out of 8 patients, seven presented with respiratory symptoms and two with congestive heart failure. Five patients had other congenitial malformations; including scimitar syndrome and congenital heart disease. All the patients underwent a successful lobectomy. There were no major postoperative complications. At a medium follow-up of 77 months all of the fully treated children were doing well. Conclusion: Respiratory and cardiovascular symptoms are the most common symptoms related to PS. The wide range of clinical symptoms may cause diagnostic problems, especially in children and young adults with concomitant congenital heart disease. Therefore PS should be considered as a differential diagnosis in children with unexplained respiratory symptoms or with signs of congestive heart failure. In patients with PS, lobectomy seems to be a good therapeutic option.

Clinical guidelines on central venous catheterisation. Swedish Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine.

Safe and reliable venous access is mandatory in modern health care, but central venous catheters (CVCs) are associated with significant morbidity and mortality, This paper describes current Swedish guidelines for clinical management of CVCs The guidelines supply updated recommendations that may be useful in other countries as well. Literature retrieval in the Cochrane and Pubmed databases, of papers written in English or Swedish and pertaining to CVC management, was done by members of a task force of the Swedish Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine. Consensus meetings were held throughout the review process to allow all parts of the guidelines to be embraced by all contributors. All of the content was carefully scored according to criteria by the Oxford Centre for Evidence‐Based Medicine. We aimed at producing useful and reliable guidelines on bleeding diathesis, vascular approach, ultrasonic guidance, catheter tip positioning, prevention and management of associated trauma and infection, and specific training and follow‐up. A structured patient history focused on bleeding should be taken prior to insertion of a CVCs. The right internal jugular vein should primarily be chosen for insertion of a wide‐bore CVC. Catheter tip positioning in the right atrium or lower third of the superior caval vein should be verified for long‐term use. Ultrasonic guidance should be used for catheterisation by the internal jugular or femoral veins and may also be used for insertion via the subclavian veins or the veins of the upper limb. The operator inserting a CVC should wear cap, mask, and sterile gown and gloves. For long‐term intravenous access, tunnelled CVC or subcutaneous venous ports are preferred. Intravenous position of the catheter tip should be verified by clinical or radiological methods after insertion and before each use. Simulator‐assisted training of CVC insertion should precede bedside training in patients. Units inserting and managing CVC should have quality assertion programmes for implementation and follow‐up of routines, teaching, training and clinical outcome. Clinical guidelines on a wide range of relevant topics have been introduced, based on extensive literature retrieval, to facilitate effective and safe management of CVCs.

Endovascular intervention for central venous cannulation in patients with vascular occlusion after previous catheterization.

Objectives This study was designed to assess endovascular intervention for central venous cannulation in patients with vascular occlusion after previous catheterization. Methods Patients referred for endovascular management of central venous occlusion during a 42-month period were identified from a regional endovascular database, providing prospective information on techniques and clinical outcome. Corresponding patient records, angiograms, and radiographic reports were analyzed retrospectively. Results Sixteen patients aged 48 years (range 0.5–76), including 11 females, were included. All patients but 1 had had multiple central venous catheters with a median total indwelling time of 37 months. Eleven patients cannulated for hemodialysis had had significantly fewer individual catheters inserted compared with 5 patients cannulated for nutritional support (mean 3.6 vs. 10.2, p<0.001) before endovascular intervention. Preoperative imaging by magnetic resonance tomography (MRT) in 8 patients, computed tomography (CT) venography in 3, conventional angiography in 6, and/or ultrasonography in 8, verified 15 brachiocephalic, 13 internal jugular, 3 superior caval, and/or 3 subclavian venous occlusions. Patients were subjected to recanalization (n=2), recanalization and percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (n=5), or stenting for vena cava superior syndrome (n=1) prior to catheter insertion. The remaining 8 patients were cannulated by avoiding the occluded route. Conclusions Central venous occlusion occurs particularly in patients under hemodialysis and with a history of multiple central venous catheterizations with large-diameter catheters and/or long total indwelling time periods. Patients with central venous occlusion verified by CT or MRT venography and need for central venous access should be referred for endovascular intervention.

Total-tau and neurofilament light in CSF reflect spinal cord ischaemia after endovascular aortic repair.

BACKGROUND Repair of extensive aortic disease may be associated with spinal cord ischaemia (SCI). Here we test if levels of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers for neuronal injury are altered in patients with SCI after advanced endovascular repair in extensive aortic disease. METHODS CSF was sampled for up to 48 h in ten patients undergoing endovascular aortic repair and analyzed for the axonal damage markers total-tau (T-tau) and neurofilament light (NFL). RESULTS Six of ten patients developed SCI (clinically present within 3-6 h). CSF levels of NFL increased up to 37-fold in patients with, but were stable in patients without, SCI. CSF levels of T-tau also increased in patients with SCI, but with some overlap with patients without SCI. Levels of NFL and T-tau did not increase until after the appearance of clinical signs of neurological dysfunction (12-48 h after aortic repair). CONCLUSIONS The CSF biomarkers NFL and T-tau both reflect development of SCI after endovascular aortic repair, but do not rise until after clinical signs of SCI appear. Future studies are desirable to further evaluate potential use of these biomarkers for assessment of the severity of SCI, and also to identify earlier biomarkers of SCI.

Depersonalization disorder may be related to glutamate receptor activation imbalance.

Low-dose ketamine administration mimics, both clinically and on gross neuroimaging, depersonalization disorder. The perceptual effects of ketamine may be due to secondary stimulation of glutamate release and lamotrigine, possibly by inhibited glutamate release, may reduce some of ketamines so-called dissociative effects. However, lamotrigine does not seem to be useful in the treatment of depersonalization disorder. Glutamate release in prefrontal cortex is increased by subanaesthetic doses of ketamine, resulting in increased inhibition, possibly via intercalated GABAerg cells, of projections from amygdala, affecting structures critically involved in depersonalization. I speculate that, in depersonalization disorder, the increased glutamate activity in prefrontal cortex is due to intrinsic imbalance, resulting in long-term potentiation, at the postsynaptic glutamate receptors on the GABAerg interneurons while the same receptor abnormality at the synapses on the intercalated GABAerg cells of the amygdala result in long-term depression in the case of either normal or high glutamate release.