Bedside diagnostic ultrasound and therapeutic ultrasound-guided procedures in the intensive care setting

Efficacy and safety of ultrasound-guided internal jugular vein catheterization in low birth weight newborn

BACKGROUND

Central venous catheterization is not the first choice of vascular access in neonates. Success depends on the size of the vessel and the skill of the health professional performing the procedure. The internal jugular vein provides a predictable path for central venous cannulation, although it is more difficult to cannulate infants than adults and even more difficult in smaller newborns.

METHODS

We conducted a prospective study in 100 newborns, in which a 4 Fr ultrasound-guided central venous catheter was placed in the right internal jugular vein (RIJV). The study population was low birth weight (LBW) newborns <2500g, very low birth weight (VLBW) newborns <1500g and extremely low birth weight (ELBW) newborns <1000g.

RESULTS

There were 53% female patients, mean gestational age was 31weeks, mean weight 1352g and the CVC was placed at a mean of 12days of extrauterine life. Birth weight distribution was 39% LBW; 33% VLBW and 28% ELBW. A mean of two (1-8) attempts were necessary with a procedure duration of 16.8 (10-40) minutes. Success of RIJV catheterization was 94%. One attempt was necessary in 50% and up to 5 attempts in 95.7%. Success by weight was VLBW, 97.2%; ELBW, 92.9%; LBW, 91.7%. A venous hematoma occurred in 5% of cases.

CONCLUSIONS

Ultrasound-guided RIJV cannulation with real-time visualization to gain access to the central venous circulation in low birth weight newborns is effective and safe.

Limited intervention improves technical skill in focus assessed transthoracic echocardiography among novice examiners

BACKGROUND

Previous studies addressing teaching and learning in point-of-care ultrasound have primarily focussed on image interpretation and not on the technical quality of the images. We hypothesized that a limited intervention of 10 supervised examinations would improve the technical skills in Focus Assessed Transthoracic Echocardiography (FATE) and that physicians with no experience in FATE would quickly adopt technical skills allowing for image quality suitable for interpretation.

METHODS

Twenty-one physicians with no previous training in FATE or echocardiography (Novices) participated in the study and a reference group of three examiners with more than 10 years of experience in echocardiography (Experts) was included. Novices received an initial theoretical and practical introduction (2 hours), after which baseline examinations were performed on two healthy volunteers. Subsequently all physicians were scheduled to a separate intervention day comprising ten supervised FATE examinations. For effect measurement a second examination (evaluation) of the same two healthy volunteers from the baseline examination was performed.

RESULTS

At baseline 86% of images obtained by novices were suitable for interpretation, on evaluation this was 93% (p = 0.005). 100% of images obtained by experts were suitable for interpretation. Mean global image rating on baseline examinations was 70.2 (CI 68.0-72.4) and mean global image rating after intervention was 75.0 (CI 72.9-77.0), p = 0.0002. In comparison, mean global image rating in the expert group was 89.8 (CI 88.8-90.9).

CONCLUSIONS

Improvement of technical skills in FATE can be achieved with a limited intervention and upon completion of intervention 93% of images achieved are suitable for clinical interpretation.

Toward an ultrasound curriculum for critical care medicine

Accurate assessment and rapid decision-making are essential to save lives and improve performance in critical care medicine. Real-time point-of-care ultrasound has become an invaluable adjunct to the clinical evaluation of critically ill and injured patients both for pre- and in-hospital situations. However, a high level of quality is necessary, guaranteed by appropriate education, experience, credentialing, quality control, continuing education, and professional development. Although educational recommendations have been proposed by a variety of nonimaging specialties, to date they are still scattered and limited examples of standards for critical and intensive care professionals. The challenge of providing adequate specialty-specific training, as encouraged by major medical societies, is made even more difficult by the diversity of critical care ultrasound utilization by various subspecialties in a variety of settings and numerous countries. In order to meet this educational challenge, a standard core curriculum is presented in this manuscript. The proposed curriculum is built on a competence, performance, and outcomes-based approach that is tailored to setting-specific training needs and prioritized according to critical problem-based pathways, rather than traditional organ-based systems. A multiple goal-oriented style fully addresses the specialty-specific approach of critical and intensive care professionals, who typically deal with disease states in complex scenarios rather than individual organ complaints. Because of the variation in the concept of what constitutes critical care worldwide, and the rate of change of information and technology, this manuscript attempts to present a learning system addressing a variety of needs for a rapidly changing world.

Acute acalculous cholecystitis after trauma: a prospective study

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to identify risk factors for the development of acute acalculous cholecystitis (AAC) and useful criteria to facilitate the decision to perform cholecystectomy.

METHODS

This was a prospective study of patients with an Injury Severity Score (ISS) > or = 12 requiring intensive care for > 4 days (n = 255), divided into three groups by ultrasound: AAC (n = 27), hydropic gallbladder (n = 37), and normal gallbladder (n = 191). Multivariate analysis was conducted for trauma scores and laboratory and intensive care unit (ICU) data and complemented by logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

Three factors sufficiently define the risk for AAC: ISS, heart rate, and units of packed red blood cells required at ICU admission. All patients who underwent cholecystectomy (n = 21) had both highly pathologic ultrasound and major clinical symptoms, and all had histologically verified AAC. There was no significant difference in daily laboratory data between patients with and without AAC.

CONCLUSION

Patients with a high ISS who are tachycardic and have required several units of packed red blood cells at ICU admission should be monitored early by ultrasound. When ultrasound is highly pathologic together with major clinical symptoms, cholecystectomy should be performed. Daily laboratory data are of no additional value regarding the decision to perform cholecystectomy.