Keenan Yanit

Peripherally inserted central catheter usage patterns and associated symptomatic upper extremity venous thrombosis

OBJECTIVES Peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) may be complicated by upper extremity (UE) superficial (SVT) or deep venous thrombosis (DVT). The purpose of this study was to determine current PICC insertion patterns and if any PICC or patient characteristics were associated with venous thrombotic complications. METHODS All UE venous duplex scans during a 12-month period were reviewed, selecting patients with isolated SVT or DVT and PICCs placed ≤30 days. All UE PICC procedures during the same period were identified from an electronic medical record query. PICC-associated DVTs, categorized by insertion site, were compared with all first-time UE PICCs to determine the rate of UE DVT and isolated UE SVT. Technical and clinical variables in patients with PICC-associated UE DVT also were compared with 172 patients who received a PICC without developing DVT (univariable and multivariable analysis). RESULTS We identified 219 isolated UE SVTs and 154 UE DVTs, with 2056 first-time UE PICCs placed during the same period. A PICC was associated with 44 of 219 (20%) isolated UE SVTs and 54 of 154 UE DVTs (35%). The rates of PICC-associated symptomatic UE SVT were 1.9% for basilic, 7.2% for cephalic, and 0% for brachial vein PICCs. The rates of PICC-associated symptomatic UE DVT were 3.1% for basilic, 2.2% for brachial, and 0% for cephalic vein PICCs (χ(2)P < .001). Univariate analysis of technical and patient variables demonstrated that larger PICC diameter, noncephalic insertion, smoking, concurrent malignancy, diabetes, and older age were associated with UE DVT (P < .05). Multivariable analysis showed larger catheter diameter and malignancy were the only variables associated with UE DVT (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS The incidence of symptomatic PICC-associated UE DVT is low, but given the number of PICCs placed each year, they account for up to 35% of all diagnosed UE DVTs. Larger-diameter PICCs and malignancy increase the risk for DVT, and further studies are needed to evaluate the optimal vein of first choice for PICC insertion.

The impact of chronic hypertension and pregestational diabetes on pregnancy outcomes

OBJECTIVE The objective of the study was to examine the impact of chronic hypertension and pregestational diabetes on pregnancy outcomes. STUDY DESIGN This was a retrospective cohort study of 532,088 women undergoing singleton births in California in 2006. Women were categorized into chronic hypertension, pregestational diabetes, both, or neither. Pregnancy outcomes were compared using the χ(2) test and multivariable logistic regression to control for potential confounders. RESULTS We identified differences in perinatal outcomes between the groups. The rate of preterm birth in women with both conditions was 35.5% versus 25.5% in women with chronic hypertension versus 19.4% in women with pregestational diabetes (P < .001). The rate of small for gestational age was 18.2% in women with both versus 18.3% in women with chronic hypertension versus 9.7% in women with pregestational diabetes (P < .001). CONCLUSION The impact of having both chronic hypertension and pregestational diabetes in pregnancy varies, depending on the outcome examined. Although some had an additive effect (eg, stillbirth), others did not (eg, preeclampsia).

Systematic review of the comparative effectiveness of antiepileptic drugs for fibromyalgia

UNLABELLED Fibromyalgia is a difficult-to-treat chronic pain syndrome that affects 2% of the US population. Pregabalin is an antiepileptic recently FDA approved for fibromyalgia treatment. Other antiepileptics have been suggested for treatment. This systematic review examines the relative benefits and harms of antiepileptic drugs in the treatment of fibromyalgia. A literature search was conducted and 8 studies matched criteria (7 studies of pregabalin, 1 of gabapentin). Both drugs reduced mean pain scores more than placebo at a modest rate (pregabalin, 38% to 50%; gabapentin, 51%). In a 6-month trial of pregabalin responders, 32% continued to have response at 6 months, with a mean time to loss of response of 34 days. Compared to placebo, the drugs had similarly high rates of adverse events and withdrawals. Without a head-to-head trial it is not possible to conclude if 1 antiepileptic is more effective or harmful than the other, although limited evidence suggests potential differences. Future studies must directly compare the drugs, include a more broadly defined population, examine long term benefits and harms, and include cointerventions. We conclude that pregabalin and gabapentin are modestly effective for the treatment of fibromyalgia but that their long-term safety and efficacy remain unknown. PERSPECTIVE This systematic review evaluates the benefits and harms of using the antiepileptic drugs gabapentin and pregabalin for the treatment of fibromyalgia. Conclusions from this paper can help clinicians to more effectively treat the pain associated with fibromyalgia.

Personalized contraceptive assistance and uptake of long-acting reversible contraceptives by postpartum women: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND Many women who intend to use long-acting, reversible contraceptives (LARCs) postpartum do not follow through with initiating use. The objectives of this study were to determine whether support from a contraceptive personal assistant could increase the uptake of LARCs by 3 months postpartum, and to identify risk factors for nonuptake of LARCs among women who planned LARC use. STUDY DESIGN This is a randomized, controlled trial of 50 low-income postpartum women who desired LARC. The intervention group received telephone contact from a personal assistant who provided contraception education, facilitation of insurance coverage, appointment scheduling and assistance with childcare and transportation. The control group received routine follow up. Women were surveyed immediately and 3 months postpartum regarding contraceptive use and anticipated barriers to LARC use. RESULTS A similar proportion of women in both groups received LARC [control 16/24 (67%), intervention 18/25 (72%), p=.76]. More primiparous (86.4%) than multiparous (55.5%) women obtained LARC (p=.04). In addition, women with more prenatal visits were more likely to have initiated LARC (odds ratio, 95% confidence interval for each increased visit: 1.50, 1.15-1.96). No other demographic factors were related to LARC uptake. CONCLUSIONS Providing telephone assistance to help navigate barriers did not increase postpartum uptake of LARCs. A personal history of clinic visit no-shows and/or infrequent prenatal visits were related to poor uptake of LARCs postpartum.

Women With Prior Shoulder Dystocia: What Is the Optimal Mode of Delivery? [175]

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether trial of labor (TOL) or elective cesarean delivery is optimal in healthy women with a prior shoulder dystocia. STUDY DESIGN: A decision analytic model was created to compare attempted modes of delivery. For the TOL arm, both vaginal delivery and cesarean delivery were considered. We accounted for mode of delivery, shoulder dystocia, brachial plexus injury, asphyxia, fetal mortality, and maternal mortality. A literature review identified nine studies on the incidence of recurrent shoulder dystocia, which indicated a rate of 1–25%. Of these, one was a recent retrospective cohort study of greater than 8,000 American women. We used the rate of 13% recurrence found in this study. Large cohort data were used to estimate the risks of fetal morbidities and mortalities with elective cesarean delivery, cesarean delivery after TOL, vaginal delivery without shoulder dystocia, and vaginal delivery with shoulder dystocia. We assumed a population of 100,000 and considered maternal and neonatal quality-adjusted life-years equally. Univariate sensitivity analysis was performed to test for robustness. RESULTS: For women with a prior shoulder dystocia and a preference for vaginal delivery, TOL was the optimal approach at an incremental gain of 80,391 quality-adjusted life-years for the cohort as compared with elective cesarean delivery. Sensitivity analysis demonstrated that TOL was not optimal when the likelihood of repeat shoulder dystocia exceeded 26.4%. CONCLUSION: For women who have a preference for vaginal delivery, it is reasonable to offer TOL after a prior shoulder dystocia.