Safety and feasibility of ultrasound-guided placement of peripherally inserted central catheter performed by neurointensivist in neurosurgery intensive care unit

Point-of-Care Ultrasound: A Vital Tool for Anesthesiologists in the Perioperative and Critical Care Settings

Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is an essential skill in various specialties like anesthesiology, critical care, and emergency medicine. Anesthesiologists utilize POCUS for quick diagnosis and procedural guidance in perioperative and critical care settings. Key applications include vascular ultrasound for challenging venous and arterial catheter placements, gastric ultrasound for aspiration risk assessment, airway ultrasound, diaphragm ultrasound, and lung ultrasound for respiratory assessment. Additional utilities of POCUS can include multi-organ POCUS evaluation for undifferentiated shock or cardiac arrest, ultrasound-guided central neuraxial and peripheral nerve blocks, focused cardiac ultrasound, and novel applications such as venous excess ultrasound. This review highlights these POCUS applications in perioperative and intensive care and summarizes the latest evidence of their accuracy and limitations.

Enhancing tube feeding method for neurosurgery: the application of improved PICC technique

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) used in neurosurgical patients requires changes in patients' head positions. However, such changes can worsen pressure on the brain tissue, lead to sudden acute brain herniation and respiratory arrest, resulting in a higher chance of patient death. This paper addresses the aforementioned problems by introducing a new PICC catheterization method.

METHOD

In a retrospective study, the records of patients with PICC from April 2020 to April 2023 were reviewed, and they were divided into three groups based on the methods employed. The first group as the conventional group, involved changing patients' body positions during catheterization. The second group, as the intracavitary electrocardiographic (IECG) group, utilized intracavitary electrocardiographic monitoring and involved changing patients' body positions during catheterization. The third group as the intracavitary electrocardiographic with improved body positioning (IECG-IBP) group, catheterization was performed with guidance from intracavitary electrocardiographs and without changing the patients' body positions. The ECG changes among patients undergoing different catheter delivery methods were then compared, as well as the rate of catheter tip misplacement.

RESULT

The study encompassed a total of 354 cases. Our findings reveal distinct P wave amplitude percentages among the groups: 0% in the conventional group, 88.46% in the IECG group, and 91.78% in the IECG-IBP group. Furthermore, the following catheter tip misplacement rates were recorded: 11.54% for the conventional group, 5.39% for the IECG group, and 5.47% for the IECG-IBP group. Significantly notable differences were observed in these two key indicators between the conventional group and the IECG-IBP group. Notably, the IECG-IBP group demonstrated a more favorable outcome compared to the IECG group.

CONCLUSION

In patients with neurosurgical diseases, especially those with tracheostomy and nuchal stiffness, the IECG-IBP PICC catheter insertion method can effectively reduce the patient's neck resistance, does not increase the patient's headache and dizziness symptoms, and does not reduce the success of one-time catheterization. Rate and does not increase the incidence of jugular venous ectopia.

Precision at the Bedside: Practical Efficacy of Clockwise Catheter Torque for Accurate Tip Positioning of Peripherally Inserted Central Catheters

Precise placement of peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) is essential for avoiding treatment risks and ensuring the success of treatment. This is typically performed under imaging guidance, but imaging modalities may not be accessible under resource-limited settings or alternative settings such as communicable disease isolation rooms. Here, we have proposed a new technique for the precise placement of PICCs through the application of clockwise torque. Application of the PICC with this technique in our patient resulted in the precise insertion of the catheter. As this method eliminates the need for imaging modalities, it has promise for application at the bedside and in resource-limited settings. Importantly, it presents a new aspect of catheterization protocols that could hold immense potential for the future. In the future, its efficiency needs to be verified in a larger number of patients under different settings and from different populations.

Development and validation of an updated PICC length prediction formula based on anteroposterior chest radiographs for the ultrasound-guided bedside placement

Bedside peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) placement is sometimes required when the patient's intrahospital transport is restricted, and the ideal catheter length prediction is needed. This study aimed to develop an updated formula that predicts the optimal length of a PICC based on anteroposterior chest radiographs (AP-CXRs). This retrospective study collected PICC procedure data as the training and validation sets in three hospitals, including cubital crease-puncture point distance (CP), the actual PICC length (aCL), and the approach side. Horizontal and vertical measurement variables were set on the AP-CXRs. Two dependent variables were ipsilateral upper arm length (AL) and ideal truncal catheter length (iTCL). Simple and multiple regression analyses were used for formula development, and it was applied to the test set to evaluate the length prediction performance. The study included 309 patients in the training and validation sets and 91 intensive care patients in the test set. The final derived formula was: (AL + iTCL = CP + estimated PICC length, cm) = 19.831 - 0.062 × (contralateral clavicle length, cm) + 0.255 × (2nd ribs horizontal distance, cm) + 0.720 × (humero-vertebral distance, cm) + 0.761 × (thoraco-carinal distance, cm) + 1.024 × (the vertical distance of two vertebral body units, cm). (If approaching from the left, add 2.843cm, and if female, subtract 0.821cm.) In the test set, there was no case of length prediction failure. Moreover, the catheter tip position was evaluated as optimal in 82 cases (90.1%). This study's results suggest an updated formula to predict the ideal PICC length using only AP-CXRs for bedside placement.

Peripherally Inserted Central Venous Catheter (PICC) Related Bloodstream Infection in Cancer Patients Treated with Chemotherapy Compared with Noncancer Patients: A Propensity-Score-Matched Analysis

The use of peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) has increased in cancer patients. This study aimed to compare the incidence of PICC-related bloodstream infections (PICCR-BSIs) in cancer patients treated with chemotherapy and in noncancer patients. We performed a secondary analysis from a retrospective, single-center, observational cohort. The PICCR-BSI incidence rates in cancer and noncancer patients were compared after 1:1 propensity-score matching. Then, the factors associated with PICCR-BSI were assessed in a Cox model. Among the 721 PICCs (627 patients) included in the analysis, 240 were placed in cancer patients for chemotherapy and 481 in noncancer patients. After propensity-score matching, the PICCR-BSI incidence rate was 2.6 per 1000 catheter days in cancer patients and 1.0 per 1000 catheter days in noncancer patients (p < 0.05). However, after adjusting for variables resulting in an imbalance between groups after propensity-score matching, only the number of PICC lumens was independently associated with PICCR-BSI (adjusted hazard ratio 1.81, 95% confidence interval: 1.01-3.22; p = 0.04). In conclusion, the incidence rate of PICCR-BSI is higher in cancer patients treated with chemotherapy than in noncancer patients, but our results also highlight the importance of limiting the number of PICC lumens in such patients.

Feasibility of Ultrasound-Guided, Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter Placement at the Bedside in a Communicable-Disease Isolation Unit

BACKGROUND

Previous studies have investigated the safety of peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) in the intensive care unit (ICU). However, it remains uncertain whether PICC placement can be successfully carried out in settings with limited resources and a challenging environment for procedures, such as communicable-disease isolation units (CDIUs).

METHODS

This study investigated the safety of PICCs in patients admitted to CDIUs. These researchers used a handheld portable ultrasound device (PUD) to guide venous access and confirmed catheter-tip location with electrocardiography (ECG) or portable chest radiography.

RESULTS

Among 74 patients, the basilic vein and the right arm were the most common access site and location, respectively. The incidence of malposition was significantly higher with chest radiography compared to ECG (52.4% vs. 2.0%, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Using a handheld PUD to place PICCs at the bedside and confirming the tip location with ECG is a feasible option for CDIU patients.

Validation of the PICC length prediction formula based on anteroposterior chest radiographs for bedside ultrasound-guided placement

This study aimed to validate the accuracy of the peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) length prediction formula using only anteroposterior chest radiographs (AP-CXR) and the technical feasibility of bedside ultrasound-guided PICC placement. This study included 156 Asian adult patients who underwent bedside PICC placement at three hospitals from September 2021 to March 2022. The shortest straight-line distance from the cubital crease to the puncture point (CP) was measured first. Using the formula of a previous study, the CP + estimated PICC length (eCL) was calculated with the parameters measured on AP-CXR. The formula was as follows: 19.409 + 0.424 × (MHTD, maximal horizontal thoracic diameter) + 0.287 × (CL, clavicle length) + 0.203 × (DTV, distance of thoracic vertebrae) + (2VBUs, two vertebral body units below the carina inferior border) (if from the left, 3.063cm was added; if female, 0.997cm was subtracted). Catheters were pretrimmed according to calculated eCL prior to the procedure. Technical success was evaluated, and the validation success of catheter length prediction was classified according to the catheter tip position as follows: optimal position or suboptimal position. Technical success was achieved in 153 cases (98.1%). Evaluation of validation success revealed that the position was “optimal” in 108 cases (70.6%) and “suboptimal” in 45 cases (29.4%). There was no validation failure. There was no case where the catheter was inserted too deep as to wedge into the right atrial wall. In conclusion, the PICC could be positioned accurately using the formula based on only AP-CXR. Furthermore, this bedside procedure was technically feasible.

Therapeutic Effect of Ultrasound-Guided Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter Combined with Predictive Nursing in Patients with Large-Area Severe Burns

This study was aimed to explore the application value of ultrasound-guided peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) combined with predictive nursing in the treatment of large-area severe burns. 88 patients with large-area severe burns who visited hospital were chosen as the research objects. They were randomly divided into the observation group and the control group, with 44 cases in each. The patients in the observation group were treated with ultrasound-guided PICC combined with predictive nursing, while those in the control group were treated with traditional PICC and nursing methods. Then, the anxiety of patients was compared between groups by the Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), while the depression was compared by the Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS). The pain of the patients was analyzed by the McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ), and a self-made nursing satisfaction questionnaire was adopted to evaluate the nursing satisfaction. The surgery-related indicators of the patients were detected and recorded (the success rate of one-time puncture, the success rate of one-time catheter placement, incidence of complications, heart rate, blood pressure, etc.). The success rates of one-time puncture (93% vs. 86%) and of catheter placement (95% vs. 81%) in the observation group were significantly higher than those in the control group, P < 0.05. The pain scores of the observation group were much lower than those of the control group at each time period, P < 0.05. The number of patients with negative emotions such as anxiety and depression in the observation group was markedly less than that in the control group. The incidence of complications in the observation group was notably lower than that in the control group (4.5% vs 18%), P < 0.05. The nursing satisfaction of the observation group was significantly higher than that of the control group (93% vs 79.5%), P < 0.05. In conclusion, ultrasound-guided PICC and predictive nursing had high clinical application values in the treatment of patients with large-area severe burns.

A pressure-resistant peripherally inserted central catheter is as useful as a central venous catheter for rapid fluid infusion: an in vitro study

Background

Although peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) have been widely used, they have not been frequently used in anesthesia practice. The central venous pressure measured via PICCs are reportedly as accurate as that measured via central venous catheters (CVCs), but the findings concerning rapid infusion are unclear. This study examined whether or not pressure-resistant PICCs could be used for rapid fluid infusion. 

Methods

The in-line pressure was measured in similar-sized double-lumen catheters—4-Fr PICC (55, 45 and 35 cm) and 17-G CVC (20 and 13 cm)—at flow rates of saline decided using a roller pump system. We also examined the flow rate at an in-line pressure of 300 mmHg, which is the critical pressure at which hemolysis is considered to occur during blood transfusion.

Results

The pressure-resistant PICCs obtained a high flow rate similar to that of CVCs, but the in-line pressures increased in proportion to the flow rate and catheter length. Flow rates at an intra-circuit pressure of 300 mmHg were not significantly different between the 45-cm PICC and 20-cm CVC.

Conclusion

Pressure-resistant PICCs can be used for rapid fluid infusion.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12871-022-01738-x.

Management of procedural pain in the intensive care unit

Pain is a common experience for inpatients, and intensive care unit (ICU) patients undergo more pain than other departmental patients, with an incidence of 50% at rest and up to 80% during common care procedures. At present, the management of persistent pain in ICU patients has attracted considerable attention, and there are many related clinical studies and guidelines. However, the management of transient pain caused by certain ICU procedures has not received sufficient attention. We reviewed the different management strategies for procedural pain in the ICU and reached a conclusion. Pain management is a process of continuous quality improvement that requires multidisciplinary team cooperation, pain-related training of all relevant personnel, effective relief of all kinds of pain, and improvement of patients' quality of life. In clinical work, which involves complex and diverse patients, we should pay attention to the following points for procedural pain: (1) Consider not only the patient's persistent pain but also his or her procedural pain; (2) Conduct multimodal pain management; (3) Provide combined sedation on the basis of pain management; and (4) Perform individualized pain management. Until now, the pain management of procedural pain in the ICU has not attracted extensive attention. Therefore, we expect additional studies to solve the existing problems of procedural pain management in the ICU.

Effect of cognitive behavioral therapy and WeChat-based health education on patients underwent peripherally inserted central catheter line placement

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and WeChat-based health education on patients underwent peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) line placement.

METHODS

The clinical data of 113 patients with PICC line placement in our hospital from January 2019 to January 2021 were retrospectively collected and the patients were divided into two groups according to the intervention methods. Group A (n=56) received routine care of PICC line placement, while group B (n=57) received CBT and WeChat-based health education. The social support, Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) scores, Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS) scores, Quality of Life Scale (QLQ-C30) scores, catheter care compliance, complications and score of self-care ability were compared between the two groups before and after intervention.

RESULTS

After intervention, group B had higher social support utilization, subjective and objective support scores, social support scores, quality of life scores, lower SAS and SDS scores, and higher catheter maintenance compliance than group A (P < 0.05). The complication rate was 3.51% in group B, which was significantly lower than 25.00% in group A (P < 0.05). The score of self-care ability in group B was higher than that in group A after intervention (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

CBT and WeChat-based health education have significant effects on improving patients' catheter maintenance compliance, score of self-care ability, social support and quality of life, which can alleviate dysphoria and reduce the incidence of complications.

Ultrasound-guided insertion of peripherally inserted central catheter after anesthetic induction in children undergoing surgery for moyamoya disease - Thirty cases report

Background

Pediatric patients with moyamoya disease are vulnerable to ischemic attacks following physical or emotional stress, such as those experienced during blood sampling. A central venous catheter might be beneficial for blood sampling, and a peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) is a considerable option for central venous access. However, PICC insertion during anesthetic management is relatively rare.

Case

Thirty cases of ultrasound-guided PICC insertion were performed in children undergoing surgery for moyamoya disease after anesthetic induction. Positioning was successful in 22 cases, and 5 were malpositioned. In three cases, the peripheral insertion failed. Adjustment of the insertion depth was performed in nine cases. No complications related to catheterization were observed during the procedure or the catheter indwelling period.

Conclusions

We report the successful use of PICC in children undergoing surgery for moyamoya disease with a considerable success rate and low incidence of malpositioning or complications.