Jae Hun Jung

Influence of arm position on catheter placement during real-time ultrasound-guided right infraclavicular proximal axillary venous catheterization

BACKGROUND Real-time ultrasound-guided infraclavicular proximal axillary venous catheterization is used in many clinical situations and provides the advantages of catheter stabilization, a reduced risk of catheter-related infection, and comfort for the patient without limitation of movement. However, unintended catheter tip dislocation and accidental arterial puncture occur occasionally. This study was designed to investigate the influence of arm position on catheter placement and complications. METHODS Patients were randomized to either the neutral group (n=240) or the abduction group (n=241). In the neutral group, patients were positioned with the head and shoulders placed in an anatomically neutral position and the arms kept by the side during catheterization. In the abduction group, the right upper arm was abducted at 90° from the trunk during catheterization. After real-time ultrasound-guided catheterization was carried out in the right infraclavicular proximal axillary vein, misplacement of the catheter and all complications were evaluated with ultrasound and chest radiography. RESULTS The success rate of complete catheterization before evaluating the placement of the catheter was high in both groups (97.1 vs 98.8%, P=not significant). The incidence of accidental arterial puncture was not different (1.7 vs 0%, P=not significant). The incidence of misplacement of the catheter was higher in the neutral group than in the abduction group (3.9 vs 0.4%, P=0.01). There were no complications, such as haemothorax, pneumothorax, or injury to the brachial plexus and phrenic nerve, in either group. CONCLUSIONS Upper arm abduction may minimize the risk of misplacement of the catheter during real-time ultrasound-guided infraclavicular proximal axillary venous catheterization. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION The trial was registered with the Clinical Trial Registry of Korea: https://cris.nih.go.kr/cris/index.jsp. Identifier: KCT0001417.

Ultrasonography of the optic nerve sheath to assess intracranial pressure changes after ventriculo‐peritoneal shunt surgery in children with hydrocephalus: a prospective observational study

The optic nerve sheath diameter has been verified by various clinical studies as a non‐invasive indicator of intracranial hypertension. The aim of this study was to compare the optic nerve sheath diameter before and immediately after ventriculo‐peritoneal shunt surgery in children with hydrocephalus. We analysed transorbital ultrasonographic images recorded after induction of anaesthesia and 30 min after shunt insertion in 34 children, measuring the optic nerve sheath diameters using a linear ultrasound probe. The mean (SD) optic nerve sheath diameters were 5.4 (0.6) mm (right) and 5.3 (0.7) mm (left) before surgery and 4.4 (0.5) mm (right) and 4.5 (0.7) mm (left) after surgery (p < 0.0001 for before and after comparisons for both eyes). The technique allows rapid and non‐invasive assessment of intracranial pressure to guide appropriate postoperative management.