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Despite surveys indicating a high prevalence of blenderized tube feeding (BTF) as an alternative to commercial enteral nutrition (EN), there remains a paucity of data regarding use in clinical practice. The objective of the present open-label pilot study was to assess the safety and effectiveness of BTF in adult patients being given home enteral nutrition (HEN).This is an open-label pilot study, in which all participants who had been on traditional EN formulas were changed to BTF for 6 weeks.The Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.Twenty individuals gave their consent to participate in the study, with nine completing the 6-week BTF protocol.Weight was measured at baseline and at 6 weeks of BTF use. Participants completed a survey regarding the frequency of BTF use and adverse effects, at baseline and then weekly for 6 weeks.Nine participants with a mean age of 60.6 ± 7.8 years completed the 6-week protocol. BTF use increased from 4.85 ± 2.44 to 6.45 ± 0.82 days per week from week 1 to week 6. The percentage of participants consuming50% of their calorie intake from BTF increased from 23.1% (3 of 13 participants) at week 1 to 44.4% (4 of 9 participants) at week 6. Six of nine participants experienced weight gain, weight was maintained by one participant, and two participants lost weight (intentionally in one and due to an intolerance of commercial formula in the other).BTF was found to be safe and effective in promoting weight gain in adult participants who required HEN for at least 6 weeks.

Background. Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a worrisome, yet potentially preventable threat in critically ill patients. Evidence-based clinical practices targeting the prevention of VAP have proven effective, but the most optimal methods to ensure consistent implementation and compliance remain unknown.Methods. A retrospective study of the trend in VAP rates in a community-hospital’s open medical intensive care unit (MICU) after the enactment of a nurse-led VAP prevention team. The period of the study was between April 1, 2009, and September 30, 2012. The team rounded on mechanically ventilated patients every Tuesday and Thursday. They ensured adherence to the evidence-based VAP prevention. A separate and independent infection control team monitored VAP rates.Results. Across the study period, mean VAP rate was 3.20/1000 ventilator days ±5.71 SD. Throughout the study time frame, there was an average monthly reduction in VAP rate of 0.27/1000 ventilator days,P<0.001(CI: −0.40–−0.13).Conclusion. A nurse-led interdisciplinary team dedicated to VAP prevention rounding twice a week to ensure adherence with a VAP prevention bundle lowered VAP rates in a community-hospital open MICU. The team had interdepartmental and administrative support and addressed any deficiencies in the VAP prevention bundle components actively.

Prophylactic therapies have demonstrated efficacy in reducing the incidence of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) in neurosurgical patients. Retrospective analysis of patients undergoing neurosurgical procedures at the University of Michigan demonstrated a high incidence (14%) of postoperative DVT among patients with intracranial neoplasms treated with sequential compression device (SCD) prophylaxis alone. Therefore, we investigated the efficacy and safety of the low-molecular weight heparin enoxaparin in preventing DVT in patients with brain tumors. The goal of the study was to compare SCD, enoxaparin, and combined SCD/enoxaparin prophylaxis among patients requiring surgery for treatment of intracranial neoplasms.Eligible patients were randomized to SCD, enoxaparin, or combined therapy. Treatment was initiated before the induction of anesthesia and was continued throughout the hospital stay. Patients were screened for DVT, using duplex imaging, on four occasions in the first 1 month after surgery. The incidences of DVT and serious adverse events were compared between groups using analysis of variance and the Dunnet two-sided t test.Sixty-eight patients completed the study. Postoperative DVT occurred in 3 of 22 (13.6%) SCD-treated patients, 1 of 23 (4.3%) enoxaparin-treated patients, and 4 of 23 (17.4%) SCD/enoxaparin-treated patients. Differences were not statistically significant. Postoperative intracranial hemorrhage did not occur in patients in the SCD-treated group, whereas 5 of 46 patients receiving low-molecular weight heparin suffered clinically significant intracranial hemorrhage. The study was terminated because of the increased incidence of adverse events in the enoxaparin-treated groups.Enoxaparin therapy initiated at the time of anesthesia induction increases postoperative intracranial hemorrhage.

Segmental spinal fixation using sublaminar or interspinous stainless steel wire has been successfully used for many years. Stainless steel cables have been developed that are stronger and more flexible, allowing for shorter operative time and decreased risk of neurological deficit. However, stainless steel implants create significant artifact on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), reducing the postoperative usefulness of this imaging modality. Titanium instrumentation has the advantage of producing minimal MRI artifact. Recently, a braided titanium cable has been developed that has the advantages of strength and flexibility as well as minimal production of MRI artifact. We present a series of 50 patients who underwent internal fixation of the spine using a braided titanium cable either alone or in combination with supplementary titanium instrumentation. No instrument failures have occurred to date. Postoperative MRI scans have revealed minimal implant-related artifact, allowing for high-resolution, noninvasive postoperative imaging of the neuraxis. We conclude that braided titanium cable has significant advantages over stainless steel cable or monofilament wire and is a valuable instrument for segmental spine fixation.