Focus on peripherally inserted central catheters in critically ill patients

Venous access devices are of pivotal importance for an increasing number of critically ill patients in a variety of disease states and in a variety of clinical settings(emergency, intensive care, surgery) and for different purposes(fluids or drugs infusions, parenteral nutrition, antibiotic therapy, hemodynamic monitoring, procedures of dialysis/apheresis). However, healthcare professionals are commonly worried about the possible consequences that may result using a central venous access device(CVAD)(mainly, bloodstream infections and thrombosis), both peripherally inserted central catheters(PICCs) and centrally inserted central catheters(CICCs). This review aims to discuss indications, insertion techniques, and care of PICCs in critically ill patients. PICCs have many advantages over standard CICCs. First of all, their insertion is easy and safe-due to their placement into peripheral veins of the armand the advantage of a central location of catheter tip suitable for all osmolarity and p H solutions. Using the ultrasound-guidance for the PICC insertion, the risk of hemothorax and pneumothorax can be avoided, as wellas the possibility of primary malposition is very low. PICC placement is also appropriate to avoid post-procedural hemorrhage in patients with an abnormal coagulative state who need a CVAD. Some limits previously ascribed to PICCs(i.e., low flow rates, difficult central venous pressure monitoring, lack of safety for radio-diagnostic procedures, single-lumen) have delayed their start up in the intensive care units as common practice. Though, the recent development of power-injectable PICCs overcomes these technical limitations and PICCs have started to spread in critical care settings. Two important take-home messages may be drawn from this review. First, the incidence of complications varies depending on venous accesses and healthcare professionals should be aware of the different clinical performance as well as of the different risks associated with each type of CVAD(CICCs or PICCs). Second, an inappropriate CVAD choice and, particularly, an inadequate insertion technique are relevant-and often not recognized-potential risk factors for complications in critically ill patients. We strongly believe that all healthcare professionals involved in the choice, insertion or management of CVADs in critically ill patients should know all potential risk factors of complications. This knowledge may minimize complications and guarantee longevity to the CVAD optimizing the risk/benefit ratio of CVAD insertion and use. Proper management of CVADs in critical care saves lines and lives. Much evidence from the medical literature and from the clinical practice supports our belief that, compared to CICCs, the so-called power-injectable peripherally inserted central catheters are a good alternative choice in critical care.

Targeted Ultrasound-Guided Double Catheters (Infraclavicular-Brachial Plexus, Median Nerve) Facilitate Hand Rehabilitation with Superb Analgesia and Motor Function Retention

A 44-year-old male who suffered a crush-degloving hand injury complicated by Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) type I was scheduled for operative hand manipulation and inpatient physiotherapy. Preoperative placement of an ultrasound-guided infraclavicular catheter provided incomplete analgesia requiring supplemental morphine during physiotherapy sessions despite continuous infusion of 0.1% bupivacaine at 20 mL/hour. Due to the patient’s adamant refusal of replacement of the infraclavicular catheter, a second ultrasound-guided median nerve catheter was placed distally at the mid-forearm level and elicited complete sensory blockade of the hand. Dual infusions were maintained with 0.25% bupivacaine at 5 mL/hour through the median nerve catheter and 0.1% bupivacaine at 20 mL/hour through the infraclavicular catheter, and subsequent daily physiotherapy progressed productively. Continuous perineural catheter use to facilitate rehabilitation is an emerging practice that may improve overall recovery. Combination catheters, infusing local anesthetics at separate locations, can be used synergistically to preserve motor function and reach a superior analgesic endpoint.

Steerable microcatheters for complex percutaneous coronary interventions in octogenarians: from Venture to Swift Ninja

0ctogenarians represent the fastest growing group of patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI),now constituting more than one in five patients treated with PCI in real-world practice.[1,2]Comparing coronary lesion characteristics of patients aged<≥80 years to those≥80 years undergoing PCI,the octogenarians have a higher prevalence of calcified and ostial lesions,tortuous coronary anatomy,multi-vessel disease and left main stem(LMS)stenosis.⑶Furthermore,they often have greater ischemic burden than their younger counterparts,suggesting an even greater benefit following revascularization.

Angle Effect to Dropping of Dew in Closed Suction Catheters

Intratracheal aspiration in a patient on ventilation is generally performed using a catheter. Of late, closed suction systems have been used more frequently than open systems. To remove tracheal secretions through the intratracheal tube, catheter suction is used, and the suction catheter may be of the closed- or open-type. The catheters are cleaned by flushing with sterile 0.9% saline, resulting in dropping of dew. This phenomenon is caused by some factors: influence of flow, clogging of the suction tube, problem of manipulation of flushing and angle between the intubation tube and the connection port. But this dropping has not yet been investigated. In this study, we focused at this angle and we used the test lung which is simulated machine on behalf of patient. We consider two situations adult and child, also two types of catheters Eco-Cath and Ty-care. In child case we consider elbow-type suction catheters and Y-connector type. The angle was set at 0&#176;, 20&#176;, 40&#176;, 60&#176;, and 90&#176;, and we observed the difference between Eco-Cath and Ty-care. In adults difference is significant (p 0.001), In 90&#176;between Tracheal intubation and Tracheotomy (p ≈ 0.26). In child difference is significant (p 0.001), In 90&#176;between Tracheal intubation and Tracheotomy (p ≈ 0.15). In child case we observed dependency of angle on various conditions too. The relation of the angle and dew was clarified.

Surface Treated Catheters for Vascular Access—Useful?

Background: Catheter-related infections (CRI), thrombosis, and stenosis are among the most frequent complications associated with catheters which are inserted in vessels as vascular access. These problems are usually related to the handling of the staff, the catheter materials, and the surface properties of the catheter. To mitigate such complications surface treatment process of the outer surface, such as ion beam assisted deposition is investigated in a retrospective study from 1992 to 2007, to prove if the surface treatment of the catheters is a sufficient solution. Methods: This study (1992-2007) evaluated silver coated and non-coated implanted large-bore catheters used for extracorporeal detoxification. In 159 patients, 54 patients received a silver coated catheter (Spi-Argent, Spire Corporation, Bedford, MA, USA) and 105 patients, an untreated catheter served as controls. The catheters were inserted into the internal jugular or subclavian veins. After removal, the catheters were cultured for bacterial colonization using standard microbiologic assays. They were also examined using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Results: The silver coated catheters showed a tendency towards longer in situ time. The microbiologic examinations of the catheter tips were in both catheter types high positive, but not significant. Conclusion: The silver coated catheters showed no significant reduction in infection rate by evaluation of all collected data in this retrospective study. There was no association between both catheters in significantly reducing patient discomfort. Other surface treatments which include the outer and inner surface are necessary. New developed catheter materials such as the microdomain structured inner and outer surface, as an example, are considered more biocompatible because they mimic the structure of natural biological surface.

Saline and Heparinised Flush in Maintaining Patency ofArterial Catheters in Adult PatientsmA SystematicReview

This paper compares the effectiveness of normal saline and heparinised saline as a flushing solution in maintaining patencyof arterial catheters. Use of heparin as a flushing solution in maintaining patency of intra- arterial catheters has been a recognizedpractice. Due to its anticoagulation properties, heparin can cause side effects like heparin-induced thromhocytopenia in hypersensitivepatients. The alternative, normal saline solution increases the accuracy of patients＇ coagulation status and enhances safer clinicalpractice. A systematic search was conducted at Cochrane Library, Medline, CINAHL, OVID and Joanna Briggs Institute. Reviewperiod covered from 1990 to 2011. Methodological validity of included studies was evaluated using SIGN grading checklists fromScottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network. There is inconsistent evidence and sample sizes were too small to allow statisticalsignificance to be achieved. Meta-analysis was performed for 2 studies; results revealed that heparinised saline offers no addedadvantage over normal saline. There is insufficient evidence to support the use of heparinised saline for flushing arterial catheters. Arigorous research design is needed to determine variables known to influence patency of arterial catheters. Sound clinical judgementmust be exercised in situations that require the need of heparinised saline.

A New Biomaterial for Urinary Catheters

Several studies argue that an ideal biomaterial for urinary catheters is utopian. Based in literature review it seems to be true. However, research advances: the biomaterial itself, new designs, new coatings, associated drugs, etc. Once implanted and interacting with urine, two old problems persist: encrustation and bacterial colonization. In this context, an extracellular product from bacterial synthesis on sugarcane molasses biomaterial has been studied in several experimental and clinical studies. Based on its high biocompatibility, the aim of this study is to evaluate its performance in an in vivo model as an endourologic prosthesis implanted in the bladder of Wistar rats. We evaluate physical, chemical and biological phenomena in comparison to an already established biomaterial, polyurethane. Even though it is not a finished product, the sugarcane biopolymer presented similar performance compared to polyurethane in several analyzed parameters and has an important characteristic: low cost.

Antimicrobial-impregnated catheters for the prevention of catheter-related bloodstream infections

Central venous catheters are commonly used in critically ill patients. Such catheterization may entail mechanica and infectious complications. The interest in catheterrelated infection lies in the morbidity, mortality and costs that it involved. Numerous contributions have been made in the prevention of catheter-related infection and the current review focuses on the possible current role of antimicrobial impregnated catheters to reduce catheter-related bloodstream infections(CRBSI). There is evidence that the use of chlorhexidine-silver sulfadiazine(CHSS), rifampicin-minocycline, or rifampicin-miconazol impregnated catheters reduce the incidence of CRBSI and costs. In addition, there are some clinical circumstances associated with higher risk of CRBSI, such as the venous catheter access and the presence of tracheostomy. Current guidelines for the prevention of CRBSI recommended the use of a CHSS or rifampicin-minocycline impregnated catheter in patients whose catheter is expected to remain in place > 5 d and if the CRBSI rate has not decreased after implementation of a comprehensive strategy to reduce it.

Comparing Epidural Analgesia and ON-Q Infiltrating Catheters for Pain Management after Hepatic Resection

Background and Objectives: Pain control after hepatic resection presents unique challenges as subcostal incisions, rib retraction, and diaphragmatic irritation can lead to significant pain. Both epidural analgesia and ON-Q catheters have been used for postoperative pain management after hepatic surgery, but to our knowledge have not been directly compared. Methods: The records of 143 patient between the ages 18 and 70 were reviewed who underwent hepatic resection by a single surgeon. Patients were categorized according to method of postoperative pain control. Average pain scores for both study groups were collected until POD#3. Results: Demographic data and the length of surgery were similar between the groups (all P > 0.05). On the day of surgery and POD#1, average pain scores for the epidural group were lower than the ON-Q group (P 0.0001 and P = 0.0008 respectively). There was no difference in pain scores on POD #2 (P = 0.2369) or POD #3 (P = 0.2289). Conclusions: Epidural analgesia provides superior pain control on the day of surgery and POD#1 when compared to On-Q catheter with IV PCA. There was no difference in pain scores on POD#2 or POD#3. Future prospective randomized trials comparing these analgesic methods will be required to further evaluate enhanced recovery after hepatic surgery.

Electrocautery vs non-electrocautery dilation catheters in endoscopic ultrasonography-guided pancreatic fluid collection drainage

AIM: To investigate the safety and utility of an electrocautery dilation catheter for endoscopic ultrasonography(EUS)-guided pancreatic fluid collection drainage.METHODS: A single-center, exploratory, retrospective study was conducted between August 2010 and August 2014. This study was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of our institution. Informed, written consent was obtained from each patient prior to the procedure. The subjects included 28 consecutive patients who underwent EUS-guided transmural drainage(EUS-TD) for symptomatic pancreatic and peripancreatic fluid collections(PFCs) by fine needle aspiration using a 19-gauge needle. These patients were retrospectively divided into two groups based on the use of an electrocautery dilation catheter as a fistula dilation device; 15 patients were treated with an electrocautery dilation catheter(electrocautery group), and 13 patients were treated with a non-electrocautery dilation catheter(non-electrocautery group). We evaluated the technical and clinical successes and the adverse events associated with EUS-TD for the treatment of PFCs between the two groups.RESULTS: There were no significant differences in age, sex, type, location and diameter of PFCs between the groups. Thirteen patients(87%) in the electrocauterygroup and 10 patients(77%) in the non-electrocautery group presented with infected PFCs. The technical success rates of EUS-TD for the treatment of PFCs were 100%(15/15) and 100%(13/13) for the electrocautery and the non-electrocautery groups, respectively. The clinical success rates of EUS-TD for the treatment of PFCs were 67%(10/15) and 69%(9/13) for the electrocautery and the non-electrocautery groups, respectively(P = 0.794). The procedure time of EUS-TD for the treatment of PFCs in the electrocautery group was significantly shorter than that of the non-electrocautery group(mean ± SD: 30 ± 12 min vs 52 ± 20 min, P < 0.001). Adverse events associated with EUS-TD for the treatment of PFCs occurred in 0 patients and 1 patient for the electrocautery and the non-electrocautery groups, respectively(P = 0.942).CONCLUSION: EUS-TD using an electrocautery dilation catheter as a fistula dilation device for the treatment of symptomatic PFCs appears safe and contributes to a shorter procedure time.

Drug dispersion for single- and multi-lumen catheters

This study presents a comparison of the drug dispersion capability of various catheters which can be used to inject medication or stem cells into the arterial system. The study was carried out by the use of numerical simulation so that various geometric and physical operating parameters could be investigated. The blood was modeled with a power-law viscosity and the medication had two levels of viscosity to represent upper and lower bounds expected in practice. Two different medication flowrates were also incorporated into the study. Finally, the impact of an inflated balloon up-stream of the injection was studied. The artery was simply modeled as a straight circular tube with the catheters concentrically positioned. It was found that in some cases, dispersion was improved by use of a multi-lumen device, particularly when an upstream balloon was employed to regulate blood flow and drug residence time. In other cases, the dispersion from the single-lumen device was superior. Another finding was that the multi-lumen device had a reduced hydraulic resistance to blood flow, compared to the single-lumen device when an upstream balloon was inflated.

Combined Spinal Epidural Catheters for Epidural Cooling, Cerebrospinal Fluid Aspiration and Spinal Intralipid Infusion for Treatment of Spinal and Brain Injuries, Diseases and Protection

A new proposal for spinal cord and brain treatment and protection due to injuries and diseases is made herein. It is composed of two 20G nylon catheters with 6 lateral holes arranged circumferentially within 3 cm from the tip and a closed end. One catheter is inserted into the epidural space and the other catheter is inserted into the spinal space in two different lumbar interspaces using an 18G Tuohy needle 90 mm. The epidural catheter is used for cooled saline injection and infusion. The spinal catheter is used for Intralipid spinal injections and CSF aspiration. The proposal is based on the current studies on spinal cord cooling and CSF aspiration as well as on the Intralipid resuscitation properties and lipid brain protection. A study is needed to evaluate the clinical value of this combined approach.

Comparison of Dwell-Times of Two Commonly Placed Peripheral Intravenous Catheters: Traditional vs. Ultrasound-Guided

Introduction: Because establishing venous access in patients can be difficult and time consuming, the use of ultrasound to guide the insertion of peripheral intravenous catheters has become more common. Anecdotal evidence indicates ultrasound-guided catheter insertion may result in decreased catheter survival in the vein (dwell-time), but there is little evidence to support this observation. The purpose of this study was to compare dwell-times for peripheral intravenous catheters placed with ultrasound guidance with intravenous catheters placed by means of traditional anatomic insertion in patients in an acute care hospital. Methods: This secondary data analysis examined outcomes of 298 patients who received ultrasound-guided catheter insertion and 299 patients who received traditionally placed intravenous catheters. Multivariable linear regression was used to identify significant predictors of dwell-time for both the traditional and US-guided catheters. Results: The average dwell-times for ultrasound-guided and traditionally placed catheters were significantly different (p 2 = 0.22). Discussion: Dwell-times of catheters placed with ultrasound guidance are shorter than traditionally placed catheters. Ultrasound-guided catheters should be monitored closely for inadvertent removal or infiltration. A plan to place a more permanent type of intravenous access should be considered for patients admitted for patients longer than 24 hours.

Peripherally inserted central catheters (PICC) in patients with mediastinal tumor under upper limb

Objective:To analyse the various surgery programs on patients with mediastinal tumor who accept PICC catheter under upper limb, and disscussing the methods of nursing care.Methods:A total of 10 cases, including the surgery programs, postoperative nursing and complications prevention, were retrospectively analyzed that patients with mediastinum tumor accept PICC catheter in upper limbs.Results: 10 cases of PICC catheter, including 4 cases of left upper limb and 6 cases of right upper limb with PICC, were completed successfully with complete preoperative assessment, preoperative discussion and preparation, closely monitoring patients during operation, good doctor-nurse cooperation, and seasoned operators. After careful nursing, all patients have completed chemotherapy successfully, whose tube indwelling time from 3 to 12 months,without unscheduled extubation.Conclution: Patients with mediastinum tumor should be comprehensively assessed by colour-Doppler ultrasound in upper limbs and the chest CT, which helping to check the size and compression degree of tumors, in addition to the regular preoperative evaluation of PICC. The PICC operations in upper limbs should be made by seasoned operators as well as good doctor-nurse cooperation, closely monitoring patients during operation and careful postoperative nursing.

Emergency service results of central venous catheters:Single center,1042 patients,10-year experience

BACKGROUND Central venous catheterization is currently an important procedure in critical care.Central catheterization has important advantages in many clinical situations.It can also lead to different complications such as infection,hemorrhage,and thrombosis.It is important to investigate critically ill patients undergoing catheterization.AIM To evaluate the characteristics,such as hospitalization,demographic characteristics,post-catheterization complications,and mortality relationships,of patients in whom a central venous catheter was placed in the emergency room.METHODS A total of 1042 patients over the age of 18 who presented to the emergency department between January 2005 and December 2015 were analyzed retrospectively.The patients were divided into three groups,jugular,subclavian,and femoral,according to the area where the catheter was inserted.Complications related to catheterization were determined as pneumothorax,guidewire problems,bleeding,catheter site infection,arterial intervention,and sepsis.Considering the treatment follow-up of the patients,three groups were formed as outpatient treatment,hospitalization,and death.RESULTS The mean age of the patients was 60.99±19.85 years;423(40.6%)of them were women.Hospitalization time was 11.89±16.38 d.There was a significant correlation between the inserted catheters with gender(P=0.009)and hospitalization time(P=0.040).Also,blood glucose,blood urea nitrogen,creatinine,and serum potassium values among the biochemical values of the patients who were catheterized were significant.A significant association was observed in the analysis of patients with complications that develop according to the catheter region(P=0.001)and the outcome stage(P=0.001).In receiver operating characteristic curve analysis of hospitalization time and mortality area under curve was 0.575,the 95%confidence interval was 0.496-0.653,the sensitivity was 71%,and the specificity was 89%(P=0.040).CONCLUSION Catheter location and length of stay are important risk factors for catheter-borne infections.Because the risk of infection was lower than other catheters,jugular catheters should be preferred at entry points,and preventive measures should be taken by monitoring patients closely to reduce hospitalization infections.

Virulence Markers in Staphylococcus aureus Strains Isolated from Hemodialysis Catheters of Mexican Patients

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus is an increasingly important cause of nosocomial bacterial infections worldwide. S. aureus is responsible for several pathologies, including skin infections, endocarditis, meningitis, deep-tissue ulcers, and sepsis. S. aureus biofilm formation on catheters and other medical devices is a major post-operative concern, because biofilms are often the source of persistent and difficult to treat bacterial infections. While catheter-related S. aureus infections have been reported, the strains responsible for these infections have not been genetically characterized. We genetically characterized S. aureus strains isolated from hemodialysis catheters in Mexican patients. The frequency of 35 genes coding for adhesins, toxins, and other virulence-associated products in the 55 isolated S. aureus strains was determined using PCR, while real-time PCR was used to examine the level of gene expression. Of the 55 S. aureus strains isolated from 109 patients, 45 (81.8%) were determined to be methicillin-resistant. The icaA, rbf, sarA, and agr genes are involved in biofilm formation and bacterial dispersion and were detected in 96.3%, 40.0%, 74.5%, and 100% of S. aureus strains, respectively, and 70.9% of the strains formed a detectable biofilm. Interestingly, 67.2% of the strains contained the icaA, agr, spa, clfA, sdrC, sdrD, sdrE, seg, seh, and sei genes, suggesting that this gene combination is important for successful catheter colonization. The results of this study provide significant insight into the virulence gene make-up of catheter-colonizing S. aureus strains, and will assist in developing a more targeted treatment approach for persistent S. aureus biofilm contamination of medical devices.

Rethinking dogma:Can urinary catheters be filled with air?A feasibility study

1.Introduction Although,surgical dogma dictates that foley catheter balloons must be filled with fluid there has been no investigation if air-filled catheter balloons will result in adverse outcomes for patients.Informal surveys of practicing urologists indicate that surgical maneuverability may be improved if foley catheter balloons can be filled with air postoperatively.

Complications and its risk factors of percutaneous subclavian vein catheters in pediatric patients:enhancing the outcomes of a university hospital in a low-income and middle-income country

Objective Assessing central venous catheter-related complications with regular feedback and investigating risk factors are mandatory to enhance outcomes.The aim of this study is to assess our experience in the management of pediatric subclavian vein catheters(SVCs)and to investigate the main risk factors for complications.Methods In this prospective observational study,we included children aged 3 months to 14 years who underwent infraclavicular subclavian vein catheterization consecutively using the anatomic landmark technique.Patients were divided into two groups:group 1 included complicated catheters and group 2 included noncomplicated catheters.The management protocol was standardized for all patients.After comparing the two groups,univariate and multivariate logistic regression were used to investigate the risk factors for complications.Results In this study,we included 134 pediatric patients.The rate of complications was 32.8%.The main complications were central line-associated bloodstream infection(63.6%),bleeding and/or hematoma(22.7%),mechanical complications(13.6%),and vein thrombosis(13.6%).After adjustment for confounding factors,predictors of catheter-related complications were difficult insertion procedure(adjusted odds ratio(aOR)=9.4;95%confidential interval(CI):2.32 to 38.4),thrombocytopenia(aOR=4.43;95%CI:1.16 to 16.86),comorbidities(aOR=2.93;95%CI:0.58 to 14.7),and neutropenia(aOR=5.45;95%CI:2.29 to 13.0).Conclusions High rates of complications were associated with difficult catheter placement and patients with comorbidities and severe thrombocytopenia.To reduce catheter-related morbidity,we suggest an ultrasoundguided approach,a multidisciplinary teaching program to improve nursing skills,and the use of less invasive devices for patients with cancer.

Establishment and validation of a predictive model for peripherally inserted central catheter-related thrombosis in patients with liver cancer

BACKGROUND Peripherally inserted central catheters(PICCs)are commonly used in hospitalized patients with liver cancer for the administration of chemotherapy,nutrition,and other medications.However,PICC-related thrombosis is a serious complication that can lead to morbidity and mortality in this patient population.Several risk factors have been identified for the development of PICC-related thrombosis,including cancer type,stage,comorbidities,and catheter characteristics.Understanding these risk factors and developing a predictive model can help healthcare providers identify high-risk patients and implement preventive measures to reduce the incidence of thrombosis.AIM To analyze the influencing factors of PICC-related thrombosis in hospitalized patients with liver cancer,construct a predictive model,and validate it.METHODS Clinical data of hospitalized patients with liver cancer admitted from January 2020 to December 2023 were collected.Thirty-five cases of PICC-related thrombosis in hospitalized patients with liver cancer were collected,and 220 patients who underwent PICC placement during the same period but did not develop PICC-related thrombosis were randomly selected as controls.A total of 255 samples were collected and used as the training set,and 77 cases were collected as the validation set in a 7:3 ratio.General patient information,case data,catheterization data,coagulation indicators,and Autar Thrombosis Risk Assessment Scale scores were analyzed.Univariate and multivariate unconditional logistic regression analyses were performed on relevant factors,and the value of combined indicators in predicting PICC-related thrombosis in hospitalized patients with liver cancer was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve analysis.RESULTS Univariate analysis showed statistically significant differences(P<0.05)in age,sex,Karnofsky performance status score(KPS),bedridden time,activities of daily living impairment,parenteral nutrition,catheter duration,distant metastasis,and bone marrow suppression between the thrombosis group and the non-thrombosis group.Other aspects had no statistically significant differences(P>0.05).Multivariate regression analysis showed that age≥60 years,KPS score≤50 points,parenteral nutrition,stage III to IV,distant metastasis,bone marrow suppression,and activities of daily living impairment were independent risk factors for PICC-related thrombosis in hospitalized patients with liver cancer(P<0.05).Catheter duration of 1-6 months and catheter duration>6 months were protective factors for PICC-related thrombosis(P<0.05).The predictive model for PICC-related thrombosis was obtained as follows:P predictive probability=[exp(Logit P)]/[1+exp(Logit P)],where Logit P=age×1.907+KPS score×2.045+parenteral nutrition×9.467+catheter duration×0.506+tumor-node-metastasis(TNM)staging×2.844+distant metastasis×2.065+bone marrow suppression×2.082+activities of daily living impairment×13.926.ROC curve analysis showed an area under the curve(AUC)of 0.827(95%CI:0.724-0.929,P<0.001),with a corresponding optimal cut-off value of 0.612,sensitivity of 0.755,and specificity of 0.857.Calibration curve analysis showed good consistency between the predicted occurrence of PICC-related thrombosis and actual occurrence(P>0.05).ROC analysis showed AUCs of 0.888 and 0.729 for the training and validation sets,respectively.CONCLUSION Age,KPS score,parenteral nutrition,TNM staging,distant metastasis,bone marrow suppression,and activities of daily living impairment are independent risk factors for PICC-related thrombosis in hospitalized patients with liver cancer,while catheter duration is a protective factor for the disease.The predictive model has an AUC of 0.827,indicating high predictive accuracy and clinical value.

Linear ablation of left atrium for the treatment of atrial fibrillation guided by double Lasso catheters and three dimensional electroanatomical mapping

Background Linear ablation of left atrium （LA） guided by three dimensional （3-D） electroanatomical mapping （Carto） has been used in many centres worldwide for the treatment of atrial fibrillation （AF） instead of pure anatomical approaches. There were little data about linear ablation of LA guided by Carto and double Lasso catheters in China. We report the results of linear ablation of LA guided by both Carto and double Lasso catheters. Methods After the anatomical model of LA and all pulmonary veins （PVs） had been established, circumferential ablations of the left pulmonary vein antrum and the right pulmonary vein antrum were performed with 2 circumferential mapping catheters （Lasso） placed within the ipsilateral superior and inferior PVs. The endpoint of ablation was abolishment or dissociation of the pulmonary vein potentials （PVPs）. Oral amiodarone or propafenone was taken for at least 3 months by patients with persistent AF, permanent AF or those whose PVPs had not been isolated completely. The recurrence of atrial tachyarrhythmias was observed 3 months after the procedure. Results There were 106 patients （mean age, 51.4±9.9 years）. Seventy-eight patients had paroxysmal AF, 12 persistent AF and 16 permanent AF. Onset of atrial fibrillation occurred in 52 patients during ablation procedure. Thirty-two patients restored to sinus rhythm eventually after the procedure. Abolishment or dissociation of PVPs was accomplished during the procedure in 94 patients （88.7%）. The duration of procedure and exposure to X-ray were （213±45） minutes and （32.5± 12.8） minutes, respectively. Among the 87 patients followed up for over 3 months, 62 were free of atrial tachyarrhythmias （including 8 patients who were still taking oral amiodarone）. The success rate was 71.3% in the first procedure. Two patients had pericardial effusion treated by pericardial puncture and effusion drainage. No pulmonary vein stenosis, atrioesophageal fistula, stroke or procedural death occurred. Conclusions Combination of double Lasso catheters with 3-D electroanatomical mapping to guide the linear ablation of left atrium procedure can confirm the isolation of PVPs.