Robert Apsner

Fat-Soluble Vitamins in Patients with Acute Renal Failure

Objective: Systematic investigations on the status of fat-soluble vitamins in patients with acute renal failure (ARF) are lacking and hence no recommendations for vitamin supply can be defined for these subjects. Thus we compared the status of fat-soluble vitamins, of transport molecules and some vitamin-dependent proteins in patients with ARF and healthy controls. Setting: Nephrology unit of a university hospital. Patients and Methods: Eight patients with ARF requiring hemodialysis therapy were investigated and 28 healthy volunteers served as controls. Plasma concentrations of retinol (vitamin A) and retinol-binding protein (RBP), 25-OH and 1,25-(OH)2 vitamin D3, of parathyroid hormone (PTH), of α-tocopherol (vitamin E) and of phylloquinone (vitamin K), osteocalcin and noncarboxylated osteocalcin, respectively, were measured and plasma lipoprotein fractions (as vitamin transport vehicle) were evaluated. Results: Vitamin A levels were decreased (p < 0.001), but RBP levels were normal in ARF patients. Vitamin D3 metabolites 25-OH and 1,25-(OH)2 vitamin D3 plasma levels were profoundly depressed, and PTH was elevated (p < 0.001). Vitamin E plasma concentration was reduced (p < 0.001) but this cannot be accounted for by decreased LDL cholesterol or triglyceride levels. In contrast, vitamin K plasma level was rather elevated in ARF patients with a broad range of individual values. Blood coagulation was normal but total and carboxylated osteocalcin were decreased. No correlation of vitamin K concentrations and any of the plasma lipoprotein fractions could be identified. Conclusion: With the exception of vitamin K, profound deficiencies of fat-soluble vitamins develop in patients with ARF. Current recommendations for vitamin supplementation are inadequate and should be re-evaluated for these patients.

Supraclavicular approach to the subclavian/innominate vein for large-bore central venous catheters.

Infraclavicular and internal jugular catheterization are commonly used techniques for hemodialysis access, but may at times be impeded in patients whose anatomy makes cannulation difficult. In an effort to enlarge the spectrum of alternative access sites, we evaluated the supraclavicular approach for large-bore catheters. During an 18-month period we prospectively collected data on success rate and major and minor complications of the supraclavicular access for conventional dialysis catheters as well as Dacron-cuffed tunneled devices in 175 adult patients admitted for various extracorporeal therapies and bone marrow transplantation. Two hundred eight large-bore catheters (99 conventional dialysis catheters, 63 semirigid tunneled Dacron-cuffed catheters, and 46 Hickman catheters) were successfully placed in 164 patients (success rate, 93.8%), 58 (33.1%) of whom had been previously catheterized. Complications included pneumothorax (one patient), arterial puncture (seven patients), and puncture of the thoracic duct (two patients) without sequelae. Postinsertional chest radiographs demonstrated impressive coaxial lie of most catheters. Catheter malpositions occurred only sporadically (1%). Difficulty of introducing the catheter via a placed sheath was rarely observed. There was no clinically significant evidence of catheter-induced venous thrombosis or stenosis. We conclude that the supraclavicular route is an easy and safe first approach for large-bore catheters, as well as a useful alternative to traditional puncture sites for precatheterized and anatomically problematic patients.

Safe and efficient emergency transvenous ventricular pacing via the right supraclavicular route.

Infraclavicular and internal jugular central venous access are techniques commonly used for temporary transvenous pacing. However, the procedure still has a considerable complication rate, with a high risk/benefit ratio because of insertion difficulties and pacemaker malfunction. To enlarge the spectrum of alternative access sites, we prospectively evaluated the right supraclavicular route to the subclavian/innominate vein for emergency ventricular pacing with a transvenous flow-directed pacemaker as a bedside procedure. For 19 mo, 17 consecutive patients with symptomatic bradycardia, cardiac arrest, or torsade de pointes requiring immediate bedside transvenous pacing were enrolled in the study. The success rate, insertional complications, pacemaker performance, and patients’ outcomes were recorded. Supraclavicular venipuncture was successful in all patients, in 16 of 17 at the first attempt. Adequate ventricular pacing was achieved within 1 to 5 min (median, 2 min) after venipuncture and within 10 s to 4 min (median, 30 s) after lead insertion (≤30 s in 15 of 17 patients). The median pacing threshold was 1 mA (range, 0.7 to 2.5 mA). No procedure-related complications were recorded. Throughout the pacing period of 1538 h (median: 62 h, range, 1–280 h) two reversible malfunctions caused by inadvertent lead dislodgement after 122 and 171 h were recorded; in one patient the pacemaker had to be removed because of local infection after 14 days of pacing. We conclude that the right supraclavicular route is an easy, safe, and effective first approach for transvenous ventricular pacing and might provide a useful alternative to traditional puncture sites, even in a preclinical setting. Implications: Temporary transvenous cardiac pacing can yield high complication rates especially under emergency conditions. We investigated emergency pacing via the right supraclavicular access in 17 consecutive hemodynamically compromised patients and found good safety, efficacy, and a low complication rate.

Inadvertent transpericardial insertion of a central venous line with cardiac tamponade failure of preventive practices

Abstract A 56-year-old man who had undergone cardiac surgery suffered from cardiac tamponade after administration of contrast-medium through a central venous catheter. Pericardiotomy showed the catheter transversing the pericardial sac just beneath an unusual high reflection and then reentering the superior vena cava. Preventive practices including chest radiography, confirming free venous blood return and manometry may fail to detect catheter malposition in rare cases. Knowledge of potential pitfalls in using generally recommended safety practices and continuous vigilance are essential for the anesthesiologist and intensivist in avoiding potentially lethal hazards.

Routine fluoroscopic guidance is not required for placement of Hickman catheters via the supraclavicular route

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety in placement of Hickman catheters via the supraclavicular route without fluoroscopic guidance. We studied 81 consecutive percutaneous placements of dual lumen Hickman catheters via the supraclavicular route without the use of fluoroscopic guidance. Success rates, technical problems, complications, infections and reasons for explantation were recorded prospectively. Seventy-nine punctures were successful (97.5%). One pneumothorax (1.2%) and three accidental arterial punctures (3.7%) occurred. Difficulties in introducing the catheter through the peel away sheath or misplacement were not observed. The catheters remained in place for a total of 7657 days (mean 94.5, range 3–392 days). Sixteen blood cultures were positive (2.1/1000 catheter days). Five catheters (6.1%) were lost because of mechanical complications. Forty-two lines (52%) were removed electively, 23 (28.4%) because of suspected infection, and two (2.5%) because of tunnel infection. Nine patients died with a functioning catheter. We conclude that the supraclavicular approach to the subclavian vein is safe and efficient for introduction of Hickman catheters. Using this access, routine fluoroscopic or sonographic guidance is not required for proper placement. Implantation of the lines in an intensive care unit did not lead to higher infection rates than those reported in the literature.

Cyclosporin A-induced ocular flutter after marrow transplantation

Ocular flutter is a rare neurologic condition occurring in patients suffering from viral encephalitis, intracranial neoplasia, paraneoplastic syndrome or intoxications. Neurotoxicity is a recognized complication of cyclosporin A (CsA) therapy, but ocular flutter has not been reported in association with CsA administration to date. We describe a 17-year-old female patient who developed ocular flutter 51 days after transplantation with marrow from an unrelated donor, for acute myeloid leukemia. After discontinuation of cyclosporin, which was given for prophylaxis of graft-versus-host disease, the clinical symptoms resolved within 3 weeks, but a slightly abnormal electrooculogram persisted for more than 10 months.

Parathyroid hormone secretion during citrate anticoagulated hemodialysis in acutely ill maintenance hemodialysis patients.

Regional citrate anticoagulation during extracorporeal treatment is used in patients at risk for hemorrhage. We conducted a prospective clinical trial on the effect of large- versus small-dose calcium supplementation during citrate anticoagulated hemodialysis on ionized calcium and intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH). Twenty-five treatments were studied in 25 patients with active bleeding or at risk for hemorrhage. Sixteen patients received large-dose calcium (15 mmol/h), and 9 received small-dose calcium (5 mmol/h) substitution during treatment. Ionized calcium increased in 13 of 16 patients in the large-dose calcium group and decreased in 8 of 9 patients in the small-dose calcium group. Intact PTH decreased by 25% in the large-dose group and increased by 121% in the small-dose group (P = 0.0007 for &Dgr;; P = 0.007 for &Dgr;%). In the 14 patients in whom ionized calcium increased, iPTH decreased. In 10 of 11 patients in whom ionized calcium decreased, iPTH increased. The increase or decrease of ionized calcium was more predictive for changes in iPTH than was the calcium-substitution rate (R2 = 0.5526 versus 0.3962, respectively). We conclude that the behavior of iPTH can be influenced in a predictive manner by adjusting the calcium-substitution rate during treatment.

Percutaneous nonangiographic insertion of Hickman catheters in marrow transplant recipients by anesthesiologists and intensivists

Long-term central venous lines for chronic hemoaccess are usually inserted in the operating theater under local or general anesthesia or in interventional radiology suites using fluoroscopic technique. In a prospective study we determined the feasibility of percutaneous insertion of Hickman catheters without fluoroscopic control by anesthesiologists and intensivists in the setting of an intensive care unit. Fifty-four Hickman catheters were placed in 53 consecutive patients with hematological disorders and/or neoplastic diseases undergoing allogeneic or autologous bone marrow transplantation (BMT) or buffy coat therapy. There were no major complications. The mean time for insertion was 35 min. The median life span of catheters was 70 days (range 3-214). Twenty-six catheters were electively removed; six remained functioning in situ at the end of the study. For 3333 catheter days (1471 days in hospital and 1862 days at domiciliary care), six catheters were removed because of mechanical complications (inadvertent dislodgement, leak, secondary migration) and 14 because of suspected or documented infection. We conclude that percutaneous nonangiographic insertion of Hickman catheters by anesthesiologists minimizes technical expenditure and is at least as effective as surgical or radiological techniques. The rate of clinically important complications is acceptable. (Anesth Analg 1997;84:80-4)

The Shampoo Clue: Two Cases of Infection of a Ventriculoatrial Shunt

Despite the use of sophisticated tools, infections of implanted devices may be difficult to diagnose. Two cases of infections of ventriculoatrial shunts, which demonstrate the eminent importance of meticulously taking history, are reported and discussed.