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Abstract: Intestinal failure requires the placement and maintenance of a long-term central venous catheter for the provision of fluids and/or nutrients. Complications associated with this access contribute to significant morbidity and mortality, while the loss of access is an increasingly common reason for intestinal transplant referral. As more emphasis has been placed on the prevention of central line-associated bloodstream infections and new technologies have developed, care for central lines has improved; however, because care has evolved independently in local centers, care of central venous access varies significantly in this vulnerable population. The present position paper from the Intestinal Failure Special Interest Group of the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition (NASPGHAN) reviews current evidence and provides recommendations for central line management in children with intestinal failure., Competing Interests: The authors report no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2020 by European Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition and North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition.)

Introduction: Treatment of pediatric malignancies is becoming progressively more complex, implying the adoption of multimodal therapies. A reliable, long-lasting venous access represents one of the critical requirements for the success of those treatments. Recent technical innovations-such as minimally invasive procedures for placement, new devices and novel materials-have rapidly spread for clinical use in adult patients, but are still not consistently used in the pediatric population., Methods: The Supportive Therapy Working Group of Italian Association of Hematology and Oncology (AIEOP) reviewed medical literature focusing on new aspects of central venous access devices (VADs) in pediatric patients affected by oncohematological diseases., Results: Appropriate recommendations for clinical use in these patients have been discussed and formulated., Conclusions: The importance of the correct choice, management and use of VADs in pediatric oncohematological patients is a necessary prerequisite for an adequate standard of care, also considering the increased chances of cure and the longer life expectancy of those patients with modern therapies.

Our objective was to study the proportion of children developing Catheter-related thrombosis (CRT) following central venous Catheter (CVC) insertion and the risk factors of CRT in pediatric patients with CVC. One hundred four children aged 29 days to 18 years who had a percutaneous non-tunneled CVC inserted were enrolled. Ultrasonogram (USG) with venous Doppler scan was performed within 48 hours of CVC removal to diagnose CRT. The major indications for CVC insertion were surgical care 34 (32.6%) and ICU care 28(26.9%). The median age of the patients was 3 years, and 75% were males. The median number of CVC days was 10 (IQR 5.15). CRT was seen in 45(43.3%), of which 33 (73.3%) were asymptomatic. The rate of CRT was 35.69 cases per 1000 CVC days (95% CI 26.03-47.75). The number of days a catheter was in place and USG-guided catheter insertion was a significant risk factor. The multivariate logistic regression model showed that the duration of CVC in situ was independently associated with the development of CRT (OR, 1.06; 95% CI 1.0-1.1; P =0.02). CVC duration was a major risk factor for the development of CRT. There was a higher risk of developing a symptomatic CRT with central venous catheters than hemodialysis sheaths., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Children with intestinal failure (IF) require long-term central venous access to provide life-sustaining parenteral nutrition. Mechanical, thrombotic, and infectious complications are potentially life-threatening and may necessitate central venous catheter (CVC) replacement. Repeated central line replacements may lead to a loss of vascular access sites and increases risk for intestinal transplantation. Children with IF face unique challenges for CVC safety given their young age, altered anatomy, and increased risk of thrombosis and infection. The following review addresses preventative, diagnostic, and treatment strategies for central line safety concerns specific to children with IF as well as recommendations for promoting catheter safety during activities, travel, and emergencies., (© 2023 American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition.)

Purpose: Patients with intestinal failure (IF) require long-term parenteral nutrition using central venous catheters (CVCs), which often require replacement. We adopted a less fallible guidewire replacement (GWR) method and verified its effectiveness and validity., Methods: We enrolled 108 cases that underwent a CVC replacement with "GWR" method with IF at our department between 2013 and 2023. We retrospectively reviewed patients' clinical details with tunneled CVC (Hickman/Broviac catheter). For the analysis, we compared for the same time period the catheter exchange method "Primary placement"; newly inserted catheter by venipuncture., Results: The success rate of catheter replacement using GWR was 94.4%. There were six unsuccessful cases. A log-rank test showed no significant difference in catheter survival between primary placement and the GWR, and the time to first infection was significantly longer in the GWR (p = 0.001). Furthermore, no significant differences were observed between the two methods until the first infection, when the exchange indication was limited to infections. In the same way, when the indication was restricted to catheter-related bloodstream infection, there was no significant difference in catheter survival between the two approaches., Conclusion: Our GWR procedure was easy to perform and stable, with a high success rate and almost no complications. Moreover, using a guidewire did not increase the frequency of catheter replacement and the infection rate., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: Chronic kidney disease can lead to end-stage renal disease, and the prevalence is increasing. Many patients starting hemodialysis require central venous catheters (CVCs). Catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSIs) are a common complication and lead to significant morbidity and mortality. Interventions to prevent CRBSI include antimicrobial lock therapy but concern for the development of antimicrobial resistance and adverse effects. Nonantimicrobial antiseptics as catheter lock solutions have also been used. Taurolidine and heparin catheter lock solution is first approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the prevention of CRBSI in patients on hemodialysis. Taurolidine has a unique mechanism of action and favorable safety profile., Mechanism of Action, Pharmacodynamics, and Pharmacokinetics: Taurolidine and heparin catheter lock solution have both antimicrobial and anticoagulant properties. Taurolidine is derivative of the amino acid taurine, and heparin is derived from porcine intestinal mucosa. Taurolidine not only damages microbial cell walls but also prevents the adherence of microorganisms to biological surfaces, preventing biofilm formation. Taurolidine and heparin catheter lock solution is intended to be used intraluminally within the catheter and should be aspirated. Because it is used locally, limited pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic data are available., Clinical Trials: The LOCK-IT-100 trial is a randomized, double-blind, phase 3 study, which included 795 end-stage renal disease patients on hemodialysis with CVC. Taurolidine and heparin was compared with the control heparin alone. The results of the study showed a 71% risk reduction in CRBSI for taurolidine and heparin arm (95% confident interval, 38%-86%, P = 0.0006). Other studies have also shown that taurolidine lock solution leads to decreased CRBSI episodes. Several systematic reviews and meta-analysis consisted of taurolidine in adult, and pediatric populations also showed reduction in the incidence of CRBSIs., Therapeutic Advance: Taurolidine and heparin lock solution represents a novel preventive strategy for those undergoing hemodialysis through a CVC by reducing the risk of CRBSI. This is significant progress because there are no other similar options available for patients for whom catheters are the only options for their life-saving treatment., Competing Interests: T. Nguyen: no conflict of interest. B. C. Camins: Advisor for Applied UV, Inc and Premier, Inc. D. A. Butler is currently receiving a grant (#23020) from CorMedix, Inc., (Copyright © 2024 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: The goal of this systematic review was to determine whether antimicrobial lock (AML) solutions prevent catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSI) in children with intestinal failure (IF)., Methods: Electronic databases were searched: Ovid MEDLINE (1946-), Ovid Embase (1974-), Wiley Cochrane Library (inception-), and Web of Science Core Collection via Clarivate Analytics (1900-). Randomized and nonrandomized trials, case or cohort studies that studied any AML solution, and used comparator groups were included if they studied children with IF. A meta-analysis compared the rates of CRBSI with AML solutions versus controls, and a Boucher analysis was used to indirectly compare AML solutions., Results: Twenty-eight studies met eligibility criteria (1 open label and 27 observational studies). Quality was good (N = 13), fair (N = 9), and poor (N = 6). All but 4 studied ethanol and taurolidine. Of 15 ethanol studies, 11 reported a decrease and 3 reported a trend toward a decreased incidence of CRBSI compared to controls; 1 reported no difference. Of 9 taurolidine studies, 7 reported a decrease and 2 a trend toward decreased CRBSI rates. There was a decrease in CRBSI with ethanol versus control ( P = 0.008) and with taurolidine-citrate versus control ( P < 0.0005). Using Bucher indirect comparison of the pooled estimates from ethanol versus control to taurolidine versus control, the estimated difference was -0.99 (-4.125, 2.27; P = 0.55)., Conclusions: There were no randomized trials and over half of the 28 included studies were fair or poor quality. All but 1 reported at least a trend toward reduction in CRBSI. AML solutions appear to prevent CRBSI., Competing Interests: The authors report no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2022 by European Society for European Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition and North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition.)

Objectives: Patients with intestinal failure require central venous access which puts them at risk for central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI). Maintaining vascular patency is critical for this population to receive nutrition support. When CLABSIs occur line salvage can help maintain vascular access. The aim of this study is to assess factors associated with safe and successful central venous catheter salvage., Methods: Retrospective cohort study of patients with intestinal failure at two tertiary care institutions between 2012 and 2020. The study examined the rates of attempted salvage, factors associated with successful salvage, and complications associated with salvage attempts., Results: Over the study period, 76 patients with intestinal failure were include while central venous access was in place. There were a total of 94 CLABSIs. Salvage was more likely to be attempted when patients were under the direct care of an intestinal rehabilitation service (95% vs. 68%, p = 0.04). The overall successful salvage rate was 91.6% (n = 77). Gram-positive, Gram-negative, and polymicrobial infections had successful salvage rates of 97%, 92%, and 94% respectively. The successful salvage rate for fungal infections was 40%. There was no difference in 30-day complication rates for hospital readmission, intensive care unit admission, and death between patients who underwent salvage attempt and those who did not., Conclusions: Central line salvage can be safely attempted for many infections in patients with intestinal failure, leading to vascular access preservation., (© 2024 The Authors. Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of European Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition and North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition.)

Ultrasound plays a major role in neonatal/pediatric vascular access, both for venous access and for arterial access, not only just for the insertion of intravascular catheters, but also for many other issues related to this type of maneuver. This "global use of ultrasound" includes a systematic and consistent adoption of this technology for several steps of vascular access: (a) the pre-procedural assessment/evaluation of the vessels, (b) the ultrasound-guided puncture and cannulation of arteries and veins, (c) the real-time diagnosis of immediate, puncture-related complications, (d) the so-called "tip navigation" (i.e., real-time intra-procedural assessment of the direction and trajectory of the guidewire and/or of the catheter inside the vasculature), (e) the so-called "tip location" (i.e., intra-procedural or post-procedural assessment of the proper position of the tip of the catheter), and (f) the early diagnosis and/or management of most non-infective late complications., Conclusion: Therefore, any vascular access expert (nurse or physicians) should have documented competency in the use of ultrasound. This knowledge should include the use of ultrasound for assessment of vessels, for catheter insertion, for proper placement of the tip, and for real-time detection of complications., What Is Known: • Ultrasound is obviously useful for vascular access procedures in neonates and children., What Is New: • Recent evidence suggests that ultrasound is useful for many purposes in the field of vascular access (preprocedural scan, ultrasound-guided puncture, tip navigation, tip location, diagnosis of most non-infective complications). • Recent evidence also suggests that radiological methods no longer play any role in the insertion of vascular accesses in neonates and children., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: Central venous catheter (CVC) complications are frequently reported in patients receiving home parenteral support (HPS). Compromised CVC integrity or breakage is one such issue. Repairing such breakages can potentially avoid costly and risky catheter replacements., Methods: We completed a retrospective descriptive cohort study using a prospectively maintained data set, in a national UK intestinal failure reference center. Repair success, CVC longevity, and catheter-related bloodstream infection (CRBSI) rates after repair were the primary outcome measures., Results: A total of 763 patients received HPS. There were 137 CVC repairs: 115 (84%) tunneled CVCs and 22 peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) attempted in 72 patients. Of the 137 attempts at CVC repair, 120 (88%) were deemed to be successful, allowing a median duration of subsequent CVC use of 336 days following repair (range 3-1696 days), which equates to 99,602 catheter days of HPS infusion. Three patients had a CRBSI within 90 days of repair, and patients required admission to the hospital for refeeding on 14 occasions following repair, such that hospitalization was avoided in 103/120 (86%) occasions following successful CVC repair. There was no increase in the recorded rate of CRBSIs in patients undergoing CVC repair compared with the CRBSI rates of all HPS-dependent patients under our care during the study period (0.03 vs 0.344/1000 catheter days, respectively)., Conclusion: This is the largest single-center experience to demonstrate that CVCs, including PICCs, used for the administration of HPS can be safely repaired, prolonging CVC longevity without leading to an increased risk of CRBSI., (© 2023 American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition.)

The provision of medications and other treatments via intravenous (IV) therapy has provided millions of health care patients with extended benefits. IV therapy, however, is also associated with complications, such as associated bloodstream infections. Understanding the mechanisms of development and the factors that have contributed to the recent increases in such health care-acquired infections assists in formulating new preventive strategies that include the implementation of hospital-onset bacteremia, an innovative model that requires surveillance and prevention of bloodstream infections associated with all types of vascular access devices, expansion of vascular access service teams (VAST), and use of advanced antimicrobial dressings designed to reduce bacterial proliferation over the currently recommended time periods for maintenance of IV catheters., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest: None to declare., (Copyright © 2023 Infusion Nurses Society.)

Background: Ethanol lock therapy (ELT) decreases central line-associated bloodstream infections; however, the effect on mechanical catheter complications is unclear. In recent years, ELT has become unavailable for many patients, often resulting in high-risk patients switching back to heparin locks. We investigated the impact of ELT on mechanical catheter complications during this period., Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study of the Boston Children's Hospital intestinal rehabilitation program from January 1, 2018, to December 31, 2020. Pediatric patients with a central venous catheter requiring parenteral support for 3 months were included. The primary outcome was the composite rate of mechanical catheter complications (repairs and replacements)., Results: The pediatric intestinal failure cohort consisted of 122 patients. Forty-four percent received ELT for the entirety of the study period, 29% used only heparin locks, and 27% used ELT and heparin locks at different periods. During ELT use, there was 1.65 times the risk of mechanical catheter complications (composite outcome of repairs and replacements) compared with heparin locks (adjusted incidence rate ratio [aIRR] = 1.65, 95% CI = 1.18-2.31). Current ELT use was associated with 2.3 times the risk of catheter repairs (aIRR = 2.30, 95% CI = 1.36-3.89) but no significant increase in catheter replacement risk (aIRR = 1.41, 95% CI = 0.91-2.20)., Conclusion: In the largest pediatric intestinal failure cohort evaluated to date, the use of ELT, compared with heparin locks, increased the risk of mechanical catheter complications. Mechanical complications carry morbidity requiring urgent clinic or emergency department visits and additional procedures. The investigation of alternative lock solutions is warranted., (© 2023 American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition.)

Purpose: Central venous catheters (CVCs) and pulmonary artery catheters (PACs) containing chlorhexidine, silver sulfadiazine, or latex can cause perioperative anaphylaxis. We examined the incidence of and outcomes associated with anaphylaxis caused by CVCs/PACs., Methods: In a historical cohort study, we retrospectively identified adult patients fitted with CVCs/PACs at the Mayo Clinics in Minnesota, Arizona, and Florida from 1 January 2008 to 1 March 2018. Potential and confirmed cases of perioperative anaphylactic reactions were individually reviewed and classified., Results: During the study period, 39,505 procedures were performed during which CVCs/PACs were inserted. Of these, 2,937 patients with pre-existing chlorhexidine, sulfonamide (sulfa), and/or latex allergies had CVCs/PACs inserted that contained these substances. Perioperative anaphylaxis, in which CVCs/PACs were the confirmed or potential causative agent, occurred during 53 procedures. Seven patients had a preoperatively reported sulfa or latex allergy; no patients had a preoperative chlorhexidine allergy. Six of the seven patients with reported allergies to sulfa or latex had a CVC/PAC inserted that contained these substances. Twenty-four patients with anaphylaxis had postoperative allergic disease consultation; ten of these (42%) underwent skin testing., Conclusion: Perioperative anaphylactic reactions related to CVCs/PACs containing chlorhexidine, silver sulfadiazine, or latex were rare in this large historical cohort study. We identified 2,937 patients with pre-existing chlorhexidine, sulfa, and/or latex allergies and had CVCs/PACs inserted that contained these substances. Although few cases of perioperative anaphylaxis attributable to these substances were observed in patients with corresponding allergies, the potential for substantial complication exists. Providers should be aware of the potential for these hidden exposures., (© 2023. Canadian Anesthesiologists' Society.)

Central vascular access devices (CVADs) are standard for the treatment of leukemia. The objectives of this study were to examine predictors for central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) and causative microorganisms. A retrospective case/control design was used to examine electronic health records (EHRs) of patients with acute leukemia, a CVAD, and neutropenia. Variables were examined for differences between those who developed bacteremia (cases: n = 10) and those who did not (controls: n = 13). Variables included conditions of health (eg, patient history, laboratory results at the time of nadir, nutritional intake during hospitalization, and CVAD care practices). Fisher exact and Mann-Whitney U tests were used for comparison. Nine organisms were identified, including viridans group streptococci (20%) and Escherichia coli (20%). No statistical differences in variables were found between groups. However, over 50% of the nutritional intake data was missing due to lack of documentation. These findings indicate that further study is needed to examine barriers for electronic documentation. The data collection site found opportunities to improve patient care that included education regarding the daily care of CVADs, collaboration with nutritional services to ensure accurate assessments, and coordination with clinical information systems to improve clinical documentation compliance., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest and Source of Funding: None are declared., (Copyright © 2023 Infusion Nurses Society.)

Introduction: Surgical complications occur in up to third of children, limiting the benefits of tunneled central venous catheters (tCVCs) in children. We aimed to identify risk factors for complications related to catheter implantation., Methods: All children and adolescents undergoing tCVC implantation at a single center over a period of 9 years were analyzed. Infection, thrombosis, dislocation, and catheter dysfunction were defined as complications. Both patient-related (ie, age, sex, vessel characteristics, revision surgery) and surgical factors (ie, sex of surgeon, surgical experience) were analyzed for their association with complications., Results: A total of 1024 catheters were inserted, 887 ports and 137 broviac catheters. In terms of patient-related factors, Broviac catheters, and nononcological patients had a higher complication rate. The use of the internal jugular vein and revision surgery was associated with significantly increased complications in patients with port catheters. Experience of the surgeon correlated with various outcome parameters. Implantation performed by an attending were associated with lower complication rates in comparison to those performed by residents. Within the resident group, insertions performed by experienced residents had more complications compared with those performed by residents during their first years., Conclusion: The study suggests that the outcome of tCVCs insertion is affected by the type of catheter used, the utilized vessel and above all by surgical experience. Residents had significantly increased complication rates in comparison to board-certified surgeons and amongst resident's outcome got worse with increasing experience of the residents. The presence of an experienced attending did not compensate for this effect. To improve the outcome of tCVCs, strategies like direct feedback after every procedure to achieve proficiency should be implanted in residency programs., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Intestinal failure (IF) is a rare disease that requires ongoing intravenous supplementation to sustain growth and health. Advancements in parenteral nutrition (PN) and central venous access in the 1960s and 1970s transformed a life-limiting disease to a chronic one in which patients are able to administer hydration, electrolytes, micronutrients, and macronutrients in the comfort of their home. However, despite ongoing advancements in the field of home PN (HPN), complications-whether related to central venous catheters or PN itself-remain common and can be associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Central venous access can be associated with thrombosis, central line-associated bloodstream infection, or damage and can result in loss of access over time. PN can be associated with IF-associated liver disease or hyperglycemia. The key to preserving central venous access and quality of life and maintaining health for patients with chronic IF (CIF) is education focused on prevention and prompt management of CIF complications as they arise. This education typically takes place at the time of initiation of HPN, either in the hospital setting or in the patient's home. The present manuscript describes the historical progression of HPN, prevalence and characteristics of CIF, and an in-depth discussion of the most common catheter-related and PN-related complications and their management, along with a discussion of our education and training process., (© 2022 American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition.)

Background: Central venous access devices (CVAD) are vital for cancer therapeutics in pediatric oncology. Tunneled vascular access devices (TVAD) are preferred in children for prolonged and frequent vascular access. Data on insertion, care, and complications of CVAD in children from low middle-income countries (LMIC) are scarce, heterogeneous, and retrospective., Procedure: This prospective observational study on eligible children <12 years with pediatric malignancies requiring chemotherapy for minimum 6 months from diagnosis excluded children with mucosal bleeding, coagulopathy, and infections. TVAD insertion was ultrasound (USG) guided. Number of catheter-days, surgical and nonsurgical complications, and risk factors for catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSI) were noted TVAD removal due to complications, therapy completion, tumor progression, or death., Results: Data from 61 of 86 eligible children with median age 42 months (range 1-144) were analyzed. Hematological malignancy and severe thrombocytopenia were seen in 37/61 (61%) and 18/61 (30%) children, respectively. First-attempt success rate was 74%. Surgical complications were seen in four of 61 (7%). Nonsurgical complications were seen in 33/61 (54%) children; CRBSI was commonest 24/61 (39%), causing removal of TVAD in 14/61 (23%). Incidence per 1000 catheter-days for CRBSI was 3.24. Antibiotic lock therapy could salvage nine of 24 TVAD with CRBSI. Thrombus and accidental removal was seen in six of 61 (10%) and four of 61 (7%). None of the studied risk factors were significantly associated with CRBSI. The mean insertion duration of TVAD was 121 ± 90 days., Conclusion: USG-guided TVAD insertion is safe and reliable way for chemotherapy administration with acceptable complications in children with malignancies in LMIC, including children with severe thrombocytopenia., (© 2022 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Background: A fungal-related catheter-related bloodstream infection (CRBSI) is less frequent than those induced by bacteria. In the past, a single episode of fungal CRBSI has been used as a marker of home parenteral nutrition (HPN) failure and thus a possible indication for intestinal transplantation., Methods: Survival outcomes were assessed from a prospectively maintained database of patients initiated on HPN for underlying chronic intestinal failure between 1993 and 2018, with a censoring date of December 31, 2020. Cox regression was performed to assess predictors of mortality with univariable and multivariable analysis., Results: A total of 1008 patients were included in the study, with a total of 1 364 595 catheter days. There were 513 CRBSI events recorded in 262 patients, equating to a CRBSI rate of 0.38/1000 catheter days. A total of 38/262 (14.5%) patients had at least one episode of fungal CRBSI, whereas 216/262 (82.4%) had at least one bacterial but no fungal CRBSI. The median time between HPN initiation and the first CRBSI episode was 20.6 months (95% confidence interval, 16.5-24.1). Episodes of fungal or bacterial CRBSI and the number of CRBSI episodes were not associated with increased mortality. Overall, 15 CRBSI-related deaths were observed in the observation period (0.01 CRBSI deaths/1000 catheter days), two of these were fungal in origin., Conclusion: The occurrence of a fungal CRBSI does not increase the risk of death compared with patients who have bacterial CRBSI or those without a CRBSI event., (© 2022 American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition.)

B Results: b There were 17 patients treated with ES while there were 7 patients treated with EVT. B Results: b 43 patients underwent MIE between 2015-2018, 24 patients in ERAS group and 19 patients in non-ERAS group. All patients had completed 1-year and 3-year follow-up while 10 patients had completed 5-year follow-up (lost-to-follow-up rate = 0%). 40.6% of patients was unknown of tumor histological subtypes at the time of surgery. [Extracted from the article]

Introduction: Catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSIs) remain the commonest complication associated with home parenteral nutrition (HPN). Although the management outcomes of CRBSIs have been extensively reported by specialized intestinal failure (IF) centers, there are minimal data reporting CRBSI outcomes for HPN-dependent patients admitted to nonspecialized hospitals., Method: This was an observational study from a prospectively maintained database of CRBSIs in HPN-dependent patients managed outside of a specialized IF center., Results: Three hundred and six patients from a total cohort of 1066 HPN-dependent patients suffered from 489 CRBSI events from 2003 to 2021; after 2017, 71 of these events were managed at the patient's local, nonspecialized hospital and the remainder at the specialized IF center. From 2017 to 2021, salvage of the central venous catheter (CVC) with antimicrobial therapy was attempted in 32 out of 71 (45.1%) patients admitted to the nonspecialized hospital, with successful salvage recorded in 23 (71.8%) cases. Notably, CVC salvage was attempted more commonly (77 out of 103 [74.8%]; P = 0.004 vs nonspecialized hospital), with a better salvage success rate (64 out of 77 [83.1%] P = 0.01 vs nonspecialized hospital) in patients who were admitted to the specialized IF center., Conclusion: In some instances, CRBSIs can be effectively managed when patients presenting to a nonspecialized hospital; however, overall salvage is more likely to be successful in the specialized setting. Further development of clinical and educational networks between IF centers and patients' local hospitals aimed at standardizing care may lead to improved CRBSI outcomes., (© 2022 American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition.)

This was a retrospective study that compared outcomes in pediatric intestinal failure (IF) patients that were switched from ethanol lock therapy (ELT) to sodium bicarbonate lock therapy (SBLT). The primary outcome was rate of catheter-related blood stream infections (CRBSI). The secondary outcomes were number of hospitalizations, emergency room (ER) visits, central venous catheter (CVC)-related complications. In 4 patients, median rates of CRBSI were 2.77 (interquartile range [IQR] 0.6-5.6) on ELT versus 0 on SBLT per 1000 catheter days ( P = 0.17). The median rates of hospitalizations and ER visits for CVC-related complications were 6.1 (IQR 3.2-10.2) on ELT versus 0 on SBLT (IQR 0-0; P = 0.11) and 2.8 (IQR 2-3.6) on ELT versus 1.8 (IQR 0-3.7) on SBLT per 1000 catheter days ( P = 0.50), respectively. Rates of CVC-related complications were similar. No adverse events were reported. SBLT may be safe and effective for pediatric IF., Competing Interests: The authors report no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2022 by European Society for European Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition and North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition.)

Aims and Objectives: To describe the outcomes of midclavicular catheters related to first insertion success rate, catheter dwell time, rate of catheter survival until the end of the treatment, and complication rates, as well as identify risk factors associated with early catheter removal., Background: Midclavicular catheters are peripheral venous catheters that are typically 20-25 cm in length., Design: Inception cohort study., Methods: We included all the midclavicular lines inserted in patients who met any of the following criteria: (a) difficult venous access; (b) administration of intravenous therapy expected to last between 6 and 30 days with non-irritant (pH=5-9) and/or non-vesicant drugs; or (c) contraindications to central venous catheter placement. The incidence of adverse events was calculated using percentages and episodes per 1,000 catheter days. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify significant risk factors for unexpected catheter removal by calculating odds ratios. Catheter survival was assessed using Cox regression analysis. The STROBE guidelines were followed., Results: Overall, 2,275 midclavicular lines were placed in 1,841 participants. The insertion success rate was 99.4% and the mean catheter dwell time was 21.82 days. The rate of adverse events was .7 per 1,000 catheter days, the most common complications being thrombosis (.39) and catheter-associated bacteraemia (.14). No significant association was found between adverse events and the administration of irritant drugs. The incidence of unexpected removal was 6.7 per 1,000 catheter days. The multivariate analysis showed that both age ≤70 years and home therapy were associated with a lower likelihood of catheter failure., Conclusions: Midclavicular catheters are associated with a high rate of insertion success and low rates of adverse events and unplanned removal., Relevance to Clinical Practice: Midclavicular lines are a safe alternative for intravenous therapy lasting more than 6 days, even with irritant drugs., (© 2021 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Objectives: Ethanol lock therapy (ELT) is effective in reducing rates of catheter-related-bloodstream infections (CRBSI) in the pediatric intestinal failure (IF) population; however, ELT may increase the risk of line occlusion and breakage, significantly impacting preservation of vascular access. During a period of ethanol shortage, Health Canada temporarily approved the use of taurolidine lock therapy (TLT) in pediatric iF patients previously utilizing ELT. This provided a unique opportunity to directly compare rates of central venous catheter (CVC) complications, including CRBSi, breaks, occlusions, repairs and replacements in patients who utilized both ELT and TLT., Methods: A retrospective study of pediatric IF patients managed by three Western Canadian intestinal rehabilitation programs was performed. Event rates in patients who used both ELT and TLT during the study period were compared using Poisson regression analysis., Results: In 13 patients with 10,187 catheter days (CDs), TLT (vs ELT) had lower rates of CVC breaks (1.11 vs 5.19/1000 CDs, P < 0.001), occlusions (0.83 vs 4.06/1000 CDs, P  = 0.01) and repairs (1.94 vs 5.64/1000 CDs, P  = 0.01). There was no difference in CRBSI rates (0.83 vs 2.03/1000 CDs, P  = 0.25) or rates of CVC replacements due to mechanical events (0.28 vs 1.81/1000 CDs, P  = 0.08)., Conclusions: Although there was no difference in CRBSI rates, TLT was associated with lower rates of mechanical complications compared to ELT in this study. Taurolidine may be a suitable alternative to ethanol in preventing CRBSI and may be associated with improved preservation of central lines in children with IF., Competing Interests: The authors report no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2022 by European Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition and North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition.)

Background: Patients with intestinal failure (IF) are dependent on parenteral nutrition (PN), however, they are at risk of central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) and line complications. Four-percent tetrasodium ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) solution is an effective nonantibiotic, antimicrobial, antibiofilm, and anticoagulant agent. Our objective was to determine 4% tetrasodium EDTA efficacy in preventing CLABSIs and reducing line occlusions in pediatric IF patients., Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients managed at 2 tertiary Canadian pediatric centers between April 2016 and December 2018 who received 4% tetrasodium EDTA solution under the brand name Kitelock. Data were collected for 12 months pre and post-Kitelock. CLABSIs and alteplase administration were compared using a Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-rank test. Data were reported as medians and frequencies., Results: Twenty patients were included (10 boys; median age, 83 months [range, 8-232 months]). The rate of CLABSIs before 4% tetrasodium EDTA was 2.7+4 per 1000 catheter days. Patients received 4% tetrasodium EDTA for a median of 365 (278-365) days, with no infections in the 12 months post-therapy (P = .002). Median rates of occlusive episodes for the entire cohort before 4% tetrasodium EDTA were 0 (0-5.0) and 0 (0-2.0) after starting therapy (P = .018). In patients with previous occlusions (n = 9), the median episodes of alteplase use previously was 5.5 (2.7-19.2) compared with 2.7 (0-2.7) (P = .018)., Conclusions: Our preliminary findings suggest 4% tetrasodium EDTA solution is effective in reducing CLABSIs and catheter occlusions in pediatric patients with long-term central-access., (© 2020 American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition.)

Background: The objective of this systematic review is to determine the extent and quality of evidence for use of different types of locking fluids to prevent central venous access device complications in adult critical care patients. Specifically, rates of catheter-related bloodstream infection, colonization, and occlusion were considered. All types of devices were included in the review: central venous catheters, peripherally- inserted central catheters and hemodialysis catheters. Methods: Eligibility criteria. Papers had to include adult (>18 years old) critical care patients, be experimental trials, conducted in North America and Europe, and published in peer-reviewed journals from 2010 onwards. Information sources. A search of Medline and EMBASE databases was performed. The search is current as of November 28th, 2022. Risk of bias. The Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 and the Risk of Bias In Non-Randomized Studies of Intervention tools were used to assess the risk of bias in included studies. Results: Included studies. A total of 240 paper titles and abstracts underwent review, of these seven studies met the final criteria for quality appraisal. A total of three studies earned a low risk of bias quality appraisal. Discussion: Limitations of evidence. Due to heterogeneity of types of locking fluids investigated and small number of studies identified, meta-analysis of results was not possible. Interpretation. Out of all fluids investigated, only citrate 46.7% was found to statistically reduce central venous access device complication rates. This systematic review has also identified a gap in the literature regarding studies of locking fluids that are adequately powered in this patient population. Future directions: Future research should include investigations and use of novel locking fluids with more effective properties against complications. It is imperative that future studies are adequately powered, randomized controlled trials in this patient population to facilitate optimal evidence-based care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Infective endocarditis (IE) is a recognized complication of central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI). Central venous access devices (CVADs) are essential for the delivery of long-term parenteral nutrition (PN), yet there are no published data as to the prevalence, characteristics and outcomes of IE in this population., Methods: A prospectively maintained database of patients with intestinal failure (IF) types 2 and 3, managed by a national intestinal failure center between January 2010 and December 2018, was analyzed retrospectively and relevant factors extracted from case records., Results: A total of 745 patients with IF and CVADs in situ on admission, or placed during their stay, were admitted over the duration of this study, 640 with type 2 IF and 105 with type 3 IF. Two hundred eighty-two echocardiograms were performed to investigate potential IE associated with a CLABSI event. Four cases of IE were identified in the entire cohort of 782,666 catheter days (IE incidence rate: 0.005 per 1000 catheter days and 187 per 100,000 person-years for the entire cohort; 0.048 per 1000 inpatient catheter days for acute type 2 IF, 0.0026 per 1000 outpatient catheter days [ie, 99 per 100,000 person-years for outpatients with type 3 IF])., Conclusion: IE is rare in the type 3 IF population and a rare consequence of CLABSI in inpatient acute type 2 IF. However, mortality and morbidity are high. Routine echocardiography may not be warranted for investigation of CLABSI unless there is a high risk of IE or a virulent organism is involved., (© 2020 American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition.)

Purpose: To explore the factors involved in the demise of tunnelled central vascular access devices (CVADs) in children and describe patterns of failure., Methods: A retrospective study including children under 16 years of age undergoing CVAD insertion in a tertiary centre between October 2014 and December 2019. The Kaplan-Meier estimator was used to study CVAD survival and piecewise exponential curves to approximate hazard rates. Related factors were analysed using multivariable regression., Results: Totally, 684 CVADs were inserted in 499 children. Devices were in situ for 213,821 days (median 244.5). Of those, 261 CVADs (38.2%) failed prematurely; 176 (67%) required replacement. Tunnelled external lines (TELs) failed more frequently than totally implantable devices (p < 0.005).TEL displacement occurred in two high-risk phases, falling to baseline after 90 days. Low age at device insertion and open placement were strongly associated with an increased failure rate. Previous CVAD failure did not increase subsequent failure rate. Premature failure increased procedural cost by £153,949 per year., Conclusions: TIDs should be placed in preference to TELs where appropriate. TELs are at highest risk of displacement for 90 days and must be well secured for this duration. Meticulous line care offers significant potential cost savings by reducing line replacements., Level of Evidence: Level III.

Haemodynamic monitoring before extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) might help to optimize the effectiveness of ECMO. However, there are concerns that pulmonary arterial and trans-pulmonary thermodilution (TPTD) might be confounded by a loss of indicator into the ECMO-circuit, resulting in an overestimation of volumetric parameters. Since there is a lack of data on indicator dilution techniques during ECMO, we compared TPTD-measurements before and during ECMO. TPTD-derived parameters before and after initiation of ECMO were compared in 14 intensive care unit-patients with veno-venous ECMO and TPTD-monitoring (PiCCO ® ). Eight patients had a jugular and six patients a femoral central venous catheter (CVC). Cardiac index, global end-diastolic volume index (GEDVI) and extra-vascular lung water index (EVLWI) before ECMO as well as the ECMO-flow were comparable in patients with jugular and femoral CVC. Pre-ECMO, cardiac index (CI) was not significantly different compared to values during ECMO (4.5 ± 1.7 vs. 4.4 ± 2.1 L/min/m 2 ; p = 0.43). By contrast, GEDVI (791 ± 179 vs. 974 ± 384 mL/m 2 ; p = 0.04) and EVLWI (21 ± 9 vs. 28 ± 11 mL/kg; p < 0.01) were higher during ECMO than before. Increases in GEDVI (36 ± 210 vs. 378 ± 247 mL/m 2 ; p = 0.02) and EVLWI (3 ± 2 vs. 11 ± 8 mL/kg; p = 0.06) were substantially more pronounced in patients with femoral compared to jugular indicator injection. In multivariate analysis, femoral indicator injection was independently associated with larger increases in GEDVI (p < 0.01) and EVLWI (p = 0.04) during ECMO. However, CI and haemodynamic parameters not derived from TPTD, but from pulse contour analysis (systolic and diastolic arterial pressure, stroke volume variation and pulse pressure variation) were not affected by the start of ECMO. Our study demonstrates marked increases in GEDVI and EVLWI after the onset of ECMO. These increases were more pronounced for femoral compared to jugular indicator injection. CI and haemodynamic parameters not derived from TPTD were not affected by the extra-corporeal circuit.

Background: Central venous catheters and midline catheters are commonly used as medium‐ to long‐term intravenous infusion tools in clinical nursing. However, there is currently no reliable conclusion on whether there are differences in complications and indwelling time between these two types of catheters. Aim: To investigate whether there are differences in the incidence of complications and indwelling time between the use of midline catheters and central venous catheters as intravenous infusion tools. Methods: A systematic search was conducted across various databases including Web of Science, PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, Wanfang and China National Knowledge Infrastructure. The selection of studies and assessment of their quality was carried out independently by two reviewers. Meta‐analysis was conducted using the RevMan 5.3 software. Heterogeneity was evaluated, one of the pooled analyses was performed using the random‐effect model, while the others used the fixed‐effect model. Mean differences or odds ratios with corresponding 95% confidence intervals were calculated. Results: Ten studies (1,554 participants) met the inclusion criteria. Meta‐analysis showed that there was a statistically significant difference in the complication rates [OR = 0.36, 95% CI (0.18, 0.70), p = 0.003], incidence of catheter‐related thrombosis [OR = 0.28, 95% CI (0.11, 0.71), I2 = 0%,p = 0.007], catheter‐related infection[OR = 0.36, 95% CI (0.16, 0.78), I2 = 27%, p = 0.007] and catheter blockage [OR = 0.21, 95% CI (0.09, 0.51), I2 = 18%, p = 0.0005] between midline catheters group and central venous catheters group. There was a statistically significant difference in the catheter indwelling time between the two groups [MD = 0.9, 95% CI (0.33, 1.46), I2 = 0%, p = 0.002]. There was no significant difference in other complications such as phlebitis, catheter dislodgement and leakage between the two groups. Linking Evidence to Action: Midline catheter was superior to central venous catheter in terms of the overall complication rates and incidence of catheter‐related thrombosis, catheter blockage, catheter‐related infection and indwelling time. Summary statement: What is already known about this topic? Choosing appropriate intravenous infusion tools can reduce the occurrence of complications and improve the safety of treatment. As two common medium and long‐term infusion tools, MCs and CVCs are widely used in nursing practice.Some studies have explored the comparison of complications and indwelling time between MCs and CVCs, but the conclusions vary between studies. What this paper adds? This first systematic assessment of the complications and indwelling time between MCs and CVCs.There was a statistically significant difference in the overall complication rates, incidence of catheter‐related thrombosis, catheter‐related infection and catheter blockage between MCs and CVCs.There was a statistically significant difference in the indwelling time between MCs and CVCs. The implications of this paper: MCs offer several advantages over CVCs in terms of implantation method, minimizing catheter‐related complications, and prolonging catheter indwelling time.Findings can be applied as a reference to help nurses select an appropriate intravenous infusion catheter according to patients' needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study Objective: Catheter-related thrombosis (CRT) is a major complication of central venous catheters (CVCs). However, the incidence, onset, and dependence of CRT on CVC material and/or type in critically ill surgical patients is unknown. Therefore, we here investigated the incidence, onset, and dependence of CRT on a variety of risk factors, including CVC material and type, in critically ill surgical patients., Design: Prospective, investigator-initiated, observational study., Setting: A surgical intensive care unit at a university hospital., Patients: All critically ill patients with CVCs (surgical: 79.8%/medical: 20.2%) who were treated in our surgical intensive care unit during a six-month period., Interventions: None., Measurements: All CVCs were examined for CRT every other day using ultrasound, starting within 24 h of placement. The primary outcome was the time of onset of CRT, depending on the type of CVC (three to five lumens, three different manufacturers). The CRT risk factors were analyzed using multiple Cox proportional hazards regression models., Main Results: We included 94 first-time CVCs in the internal jugular vein. The median time to CRT varied from one to five days for different types of CVCs. Within one day, 37 to 64% of CVCs and within one week, 64 to 100% of CVCs developed a CRT. All but one of the CRT observed were asymptomatic and caused no complications. Multiple regression analyses of CRT risk factors showed that beside cancer and omitting prophylactic anticoagulation, some types of CVC were also associated with a higher risk of CRT., Conclusions: Almost all CVCs in the internal jugular vein in critically ill surgical patients developed an asymptomatic CRT in the first days after catheterization., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Peripherally inserted central catheters (PICC-lines) used in neonatology are made of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) or silicone. These materials usually contain substances that may leach into drug vehicles or blood. In this extractables study, we determined the optimal extraction conditions using TPU films containing defined amounts of butylhydroxytoluene (BHT) and then applied them on unused and explanted PICC-lines. Maceration and sonication tests were carried out with hexane, acetone and water as the extraction solvents. The analyses were performed using gas and liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry detectors, as well as inductive coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy to detect a wide range of extractables. We selected a limited list of substances to be sought from the usual adjuvants and monomers, related to their carcinogenic, mutagenic or reprotoxic properties and/or existence in endocrine disruptors lists. The TPU-film experiments showed that acetone was slightly better than hexane, and maceration better than sonication. When applied to PICC-lines, the extraction methods were almost similar but acetone was clearly better than hexane for TPU. From the 48 peaks initially observed in GC-MS, we ended up with 37 peaks to follow in TPU PICC-lines, among which were those of BHT and 4,4'-Methylenebis(cyclohexyl isocyanate) isomers. For silicone PICC-lines, out of 41 peaks initially observed in GC-MS, we followed 20 peaks, most of them being identified as cyclosiloxanes. Barium was the main inorganic element extracted for both PICC-lines. For TPU PICC-lines, the inter-batch variability was higher than for intra-batch, but in silicone devices both were similar. When compared to new PICC-lines, explanted TPU PICC-lines extracted peaks had a lower area under the curve (AUC), while the AUCs of the peaks were higher for the majority of silicone PICC-lines extract compounds. No identified substances were detected above their toxicological threshold, but isocyanates and cyclosiloxanes toxicity was mostly studied for other exposition routes than intravenous. The methods defined in this study were efficient in producing extractable profiles from both PICC-lines., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) are performed for medium and long term intravenous therapy. The most recent guidelines recommend the use of ultrasound-guided venipuncture to reduce surgery-related complications. In recent years, bedside ultrasound has also been used as evidence of accuracy in tip navigation and tip positioning. This paper is aimed to investigate using tip navigation with the ultrasonic technique and intracavitary electrocardiogram during the catheterization, and to suggest a feasible and safe standardized protocol for clinical practice., Methods: A total of 1727 tumor clients who suffered from combined the ultrasonic technique with intracavitary electrocardiogram (ECG + US group) to confirm the tip location of PICC were included in Peking Union Medical College Hospital in 2020. And based on electronic medical records according to the types of cancer as 1:1 to select 1727 cases who only underwent electrocardiogram (ECG group) to verify the tip location of catheters with the same team in 2019. Compared two groups of purpose of catheter, insertion site of upper limbs, times of puncture and delivery catheters, tip location and malposition of peripherally inserted central catheter, and analysis of the safety and feasibility., Results: There were no significant differences between the two groups in the purpose of catheter, insertion site of upper limbs, times of puncture, and delivery catheters. The percentage of optimal tip location in ECG + US group was significantly higher than that in ECG group, and the rate of malposition of catheters was obviously lower than that in ECG group ( p  < 0.001)., Conclusions: Tip navigation based with ultrasound and intracavitary electrocardiogram has high accuracy to confirm tip location of PICC, and it is also feasible and safe, which can not only to make up for the deficiency of patients without surface P waves who could not be applied ECG but also to fit for all patients., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Background: Central catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBIs) can lead to severe complications, including suppurative thrombophlebitis, endocarditis, and metastatic infections. While complications due to CRBIs caused by Staphylococcus aureus (SA) are well-known, there are limited data regarding CRBIs caused by other bacteria., Methods: This 2-year retrospective single-center study of patients with CRBIs from a tertiary care hospital examined the hematogenous complications associated with CRBIs according to patient characteristics, central venous catheter (CVC) types, and causative bacteria., Results: All in all, 254 patients with confirmed CRBIs were included; 285 bacteria types were isolated, mainly Enterobacteriaceae (n = 94), coagulase-negative Staphylococci (CNS, n = 82), SA (n = 45), and non-fermenting Gram-negative bacteria (NGB, n = 45). Among the patients, 35 developed at least one hematogenous complication (14 %), including suppurative thrombophlebitis (n = 15), endocarditis (n = 7) and metastatic infections (n = 16). In multivariate analysis, hemodialysis, persistent bacteremia for at least 3 days, and CRBIs caused by SA were associated with increased risk for hematogenous complications, while previous curative anticoagulant treatment was associated with reduced risk. Diabetes, CVC maintenance, and hematogenous complications were associated with increased 3-month mortality., Conclusion: A thorough investigation of hematogenous complications should be envisioned in patients with persistent bacteremia, particularly those with SA infections and those on hemodialysis., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: Central venous access devices play a crucial role in healthcare settings. However, there is concern regarding the high incidence of blockages occurring before the completion of treatments and existing guidelines for occlusion management are not consistently followed. To explore the decision-making and problem-solving process of occlusion management and identify enablers and barriers to implementing evidence for occlusion management in pediatric cancer care., Methods: A qualitative design with individual semi-structured interviews. Participants were selected by purposeful sampling from a tertiary-referral pediatric facility, and semi-structured interviews were conducted., Results: A total of 13 clinicians and 5 parents were interviewed. The thematic analysis revealed four main decision-making/problem-solving themes: 1) clinical reasoning and judgement for central venous access devices occlusion, 2) capability in central venous access devices occlusion management, 3) colleague collaboration in the escalation process and 4) lack of adequate support to manage the occlusion. This study identified positive and negative influences on the problem-solving process, including clinicians' psychological capabilities, social and physical resources, and beliefs about consequences., Conclusion: This study found that clinicians in pediatric cancer care were able to manage central venous access device occlusions using clinical reasoning and judgment skills, which may conflict with evidence-based practices. The study confirmed the importance of a team approach and prior experience in managing central venous access devices in pediatric oncology settings and identified potential conflicts between clinician decisions based on the patient's current and anticipated conditions and implementation of evidence-based practice. Improving documentation and providing visual aids could benefit clinicians' problem-solving processes., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Background: Despite being a significant management decision in clinical or nursing practice, there is limited understanding of the preferences regarding risks, benefits, costs, and other attributes of patients with breast cancer when selecting peripherally inserted central catheters or totally implanted ports. The objective of this study is to investigate the preferences of patients with breast cancer who require chemotherapy when selecting an optimal central venous access device., Methods: Data on patients' preferences for central venous access devices were collected using a face-to-face discrete choice experiment from the oncology departments of three public hospitals in China representing the eastern (Zhejiang province), central (Henan province), and western (Sichuan province) regions. The study used six attributes to describe the preferences of breast cancer patients for central venous access devices, including out-of-pocket cost, limitations in activities of daily living, catheter maintenance frequency, risk of catheter-related thrombosis, risk of catheter-related infection, and size of incision. Data were analyzed using a conditional logit model and mixed logit model. The marginal willingness to pay (mWTP) was calculated by assessing the ratio of the preference for other attributes to the preference for out-of-pocket cost., Results: A total of 573 respondents completed the survey. The discrete choice experiment results showed that respondents strongly preferred a central venous access device with a catheter maintenance frequency of one time a month (vs four times a month, β = 1.188, p < 0.001), the lower risk of catheter-related thrombosis (2 % vs 10 %, β = 1.068; p < 0.001) and lower risk of catheter-related infection (2 % vs 8 % risk: β = 0.824; p < 0.001). Respondents were willing to pay CNY ¥11,968.1 (US$1776.5) for a central venous access device with a catheter maintenance frequency of one time a month rather than four times a month, ¥10,753.6 (US$1596.2) for a central venous access device with 2 % thrombosis risk over one with 10 %, and ¥8302.0 (US$1232.3) for a central venous access device with 2 % infection risk over one with 8 %. Respondents with longer travel time to the hospital, younger than 50 years old, and with urban employee basic medical insurance were willing to pay more for an improvement in the attributes., Conclusions: These findings suggest that patients with breast cancer were mainly concerned with the out-of-pocket cost, catheter maintenance frequency, risk of catheter-related thrombosis and risk of catheter-related infection when choosing a central venous access device for the delivery of chemotherapy. In clinical or nursing practice, when making central venous access device recommendation for young patients and those who live far from hospitals, totally implanted ports may be a preferable choice., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background Until now, no valid alternative exists for predicting central venous pressure (CVP) with lower invasiveness than central venous catheter. Purpose To explore inferior vena cava diameter (IVCD) measurement accuracy by ultrasonography as a surrogate variable for determination of central venous pressure (CVP). Material and Methods A systematic review and meta-analysis of all published studies in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Knowledge, and Google Scholar were conducted from inception to July 2013. We used the STROBE checklist for quality assessment and meta-regression. Results Thirty-seven papers with 2843 cases were identified. The correlation coefficients between each one of IVCD, inspiratory IVC (iIVC), IVC collapsibility index (IVCCI), and expiratory IVC (eIVC) with CVP, were 0.68, 0.60, 0.54, and 0.44, respectively. There was no evidence of publication bias ( P = 0.28). Based on meta-regression, male gender was an important source of heterogeneity (OR = 1.01; 95% confidence interval, 1-1.03), which resulted in a higher correlation between IVCD and CVP. The present study showed a higher strength of association with CVP pertaining to IVCD, iIVC, IVCCI, and eIVC, respectively, and they were higher in men. Conclusion This study does not support the measurement of IVCD by ultrasonography as an acceptable surrogate variable to determine CVP among critical patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Highlights: What we know about the topic: Recommendations for the use of vascular access care bundles to reduce infection are followed for different devices. The risk of arterial catheter-related infection is comparable with short-term, non-cuffed central venous catheters. There are practice concerns for clinicians inserting and caring for peripheral arterial catheters. What this paper adds: The selected studies had a theme of decreased infection after using bundled strategies for all devices. Few studies addressed use of bundles for care of peripheral arterial catheters. High-quality research should be performed about using care bundles for insertion and care of arterial catheters., Introduction: A scoping review of the literature was performed., Aims/objectives: To find information on the use of care bundles for care of arterial, central, and peripherally inserted venous catheters., Methods: Data was extracted by 2 independent researchers using standardized methodology., Results: Results of 84 studies included 2 (2.4%) randomized controlled trials, 38 (45.2%) observational studies, 29 (34.5%) quality projects, and 15 (17.9%) reviews. Populations had more adults than pediatric patients. All studies had the most prominent theme of decreased infection in all devices after using bundle strategies., Discussion and Conclusions: The mapping of available evidence strongly supports the use of care bundles to reduce infection in the care of all intravascular devices. However, deficiencies regarding practice concerns about insertion and care of arterial catheters highlight areas for future research with the aim to eliminate the gap in the evidence of studies of care bundles for peripheral arterial catheters.

Background: The detection of atrial electrical activity is extremely valuable in recognizing complex cardiac arrhythmias. However, P-wave detection on a surface electrocardiogram (S-ECG) can sometimes be challenging. The intracardiac electrocardiogram (IC-ECG), recorded by a central venous catheter loaded with saline solution, has proven to be a safe and effective method for amplifying atrial electrical activity. We aim to compare the P-wave amplitude recorded in the S-ECG and the IC-ECG in different venous accesses, catheters, heart rhythms, and atrial dimensions., Methods: We compared the P wave amplitude obtained by the IC-ECG and the S-ECG recordings from cardiac intensive care unit patients., Results: In 109 nonconsecutive patients, a total of 166 IC-ECG were collected. The median amplitude of the P wave was 0.1 (0.083-0.3) mV in the S-ECG and 0.4 (0.25-2.4) mV in the IC-ECG; p < 0.001. This difference remained significant regardless of the patient's heart rhythm, left atrial dimension, and catheter or vascular access used., Conclusion: The IC-ECG acquired using central venous catheters significantly increases atrial electrical activity signals. This technique might help identify complex cardiac arrhythmias., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Peripherally inserted central catheters are widely used in clinical practice. Despite the many advantages of peripherally inserted central catheters, unplanned removals can occur owing to irreversible complications and may have adverse consequences for patients. However, the relationship between peripherally inserted central catheter type and the incidence of unplanned removal is unclear., Objective: To investigate the association between the type of peripherally inserted central catheter and unplanned catheter removal., Design: A multicenter prospective cohort study., Settings: Sixty hospitals located in 30 cities across seven provinces in China., Participants: Three thousand two hundred and twenty-two patients aged 18 years or older with one peripherally inserted central catheter inserted for treatment were enrolled, and 3166 (98.3 %) patients with follow-up data were included in the final analysis., Methods: The included participants had peripherally inserted central catheters that either had a proximal valve (n = 2436) or were open-ended (n = 730). A competing risk Cox regression model was used, and both univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted. A sub-distribution hazard model was applied to test the validity of the results., Results: Of the 2436 peripherally inserted central catheters with a proximal valve and 730 that were open-ended, 272 (11.2 %) and 46 (6.3 %) were removed unplanned, respectively. The whole incidence of unplanned removal was 10.04 %; multivariate Cox regression was conducted and it was determined that unplanned removal was statistically significantly associated with the proximal valve peripherally inserted central catheter type (hazard ratio: 1.86, 95 % confidence interval: 1.28 to 2.70, p = 0.001). In patients without cancer, the risk of unplanned removal of peripherally inserted central catheters with a proximal valve was 8.14 times higher than that of open-ended peripherally inserted central catheters (p < 0.001)., Conclusions: In this study, peripherally inserted central catheters with a proximal valve had a higher risk of unplanned removals, especially in patients without cancer. The peripherally inserted central catheter type should be considered in advance, and clinical staff should take appropriate measures to prevent unplanned removals after insertion., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Background: Tunneled central venous catheters are commonly used for dialysis in patients without a functional permanent vascular access. In an emergent setting, a non-tunneled, temporary central venous catheter is often placed for immediate dialysis. The most critical step in the catheter insertion is venipuncture, which is often a major cause for longer intervention times and procedure-related adverse events. To avoid this critical step when placing a more permanent tunneled catheter, an exchange over a previously placed temporary one can be considered. In this paper, we present a modified switching approach with a separate access site. Methods: In this retrospective analysis of a prospective database, we examined whether this modified technique is non-inferior to a de novo application. Therefore, we included all 396 patients who received their first tunneled dialysis catheter at our site from March 2018 to March 2023. Out of these, 143 patients received the modified approach and 253 the standard de novo ultrasound-guided puncture and insertion. Then, the outcomes of the two groups, including adverse events and infections, were compared by nonparametric tests and multivariable logistic regression. Results: In both groups, the implantations were 100% successful. Catheter explantation due to infection according to CDC criteria was necessary in 18 cases, with no difference between the groups (5.0% vs. 4.4% p = 0.80). The infection rate per 100 days was 0.113 vs. 0.106 in the control group, with a comparable spectrum of bacteria. A total of 12 catheters (3 vs. 9) had to be removed due to a periinterventional complication. An early-onset infection was the reason in two cases (1.3%) in the study group and five in the control group (1.9%). A total misplacement of the catheter occurred in two cases only in the control group. After adjustment for potential confounders via multivariable logistic regression there was not a significant difference in the complication rate (adjusted odds ratio, aOR = 0.53, 95% CI = 0.14–2.03, p = 0.351) but an estimated decreased risk overall based on the average treatment effect of −1.7% in favor of the study group. Conclusions: The present study shows that a catheter exchange leads to no more infections than a de novo placement; hence, it is a feasible method. Moreover, misplacements and control chest X-rays to exclude pneumothorax after venipuncture were completely avoided by exchanging. This approach yields a much lower infection rate than previous reports: 1.3% compared to 2.7% in all existing aggregated studies. The presented approach seems to be superior to existing switching methods. Overall, an exchange can also help to preserve veins for future access, since the same jugular vein is used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hospital patients can have catheters and lines inserted during the course of their admission to give medicines for the treatment of medical issues, especially the central venous catheter (CVC). However, malposition of CVC will lead to many complications, even death. Clinicians always detect the status of the catheter to avoid the above issues via X-ray images. To reduce the workload of clinicians and improve the efficiency of CVC status detection, a multi-task learning framework for catheter status classification based on the convolutional neural network (CNN) is proposed. The proposed framework contains three significant components which are modified HRNet, multi-task supervision including segmentation supervision and heatmap regression supervision as well as classification branch. The modified HRNet maintaining high-resolution features from the start to the end can ensure to generation of high-quality assisted information for classification. The multi-task supervision can assist in alleviating the presence of other line-like structures such as other tubes and anatomical structures shown in the X-ray image. Furthermore, during the inference, this module is also considered as an interpretation interface to show where the framework pays attention to. Eventually, the classification branch is proposed to predict the class of the status of the catheter. A public CVC dataset is utilized to evaluate the performance of the proposed method, which gains 0.823 AUC (Area under the ROC curve) and 82.6% accuracy in the test dataset. Compared with two state-of-the-art methods (ATCM method and EDMC method), the proposed method can perform best., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest All authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The goal of this systematic review was to collate and summarize the current literature on hemodialysis access outcomes in females, identify differences between females and men, and provide a foundation for future research. A systematic review of the English-language literature was conducted by searching PubMed and Google Scholar for the following terms: "sex," "hemodialysis access," "arteriovenous fistula," "arteriovenous graft," and "dialysis catheter." Reference lists from the resulting articles were also evaluated to ensure that any and all relevant primary sources were identified. Studies were then screened by two independent reviewers for inclusion. Of 967 total studies, 53 ultimately met inclusion criteria. Females have lower maturation rates; have decreased rates of primary, primary-assisted, and secondary patency; require more procedures per capita to achieve maturation and to maintain fistula patency; are more likely to receive dialysis via an arteriovenous graft or central venous catheter; and require a longer time and potentially more assistive invasive interventions to achieve a mature fistula. Our findings emphasize the urgent need for further research to evaluate and address the causes of these disparities. Discussion with patients undergoing hemodialysis should include these findings to improve patient education, expectations, satisfaction, and outcomes., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Aim: To summarise and critique existing knowledge and evidence relating to the utility, and post-insertion complications surrounding tunnelled non-cuffed central venous catheters (tncCVCs) in infants., Methods: A scoping review of original research studies reporting the use of, and post-insertion complications associated with, tncCVCs in infants was completed. MeSH terms were used to formulate a systematic search, and data were extracted using a customised data extraction form. Data were analysed descriptively across key themes based on the research questions. Study quality was evaluated using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool., Results: The systematic search generated 3994 studies, of which 9 studies met final inclusion criteria. Studies included 644 tncCVCs in infants based in the USA, Europe and Australia. Most studies were retrospective cohort studies. The most common vein of insertion, where individually specified, was the internal jugular (n = 177). Tunnel length, where reported, was 2.5-5 cm. Infection rates were most commonly reported (eight studies), with results ranging from 0 to 12.8%, and device dislodgements of up to 20% reported. Participant follow-up and definition of complications varied greatly between studies. Study quality across all papers was sound., Conclusions: This review has identified only a small number of studies, with small participant numbers, reporting the performance of tncCVCs in infants. Definitions of complications measured varied significantly between studies, and vastly different patient follow-up protocols were reported. Further larger-scale studies on the performance of tncCVC, employing internationally recognised reporting standards is warranted to ensure clinicians can make informed choices for medication and infusion delivery., (© 2023 The Authors. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Paediatrics and Child Health Division (The Royal Australasian College of Physicians).)