ULTRASOUND GUIDED CENTRAL VENOUS CANNULATION BY ANESTHESIA TRAINEE: NEED OF THE HOUR DURING COVID PANDEMIC

Covid pandemic has created deciency of doctors needed to administer skilled procedures in ICUs and operating rooms. Post graduate trainees need to acquire skills fast and perform it safely on patients. Ultrasound (USG)-guided central venous cannulation (CVC) is one such. The study aimed at nding the feasibility of training USG-guided CVC cannulation to anesthesia trainee as opposed to landmark method in terms of ease, speed and safety. Patients needing CVC were divided into 2 groups of 50 each, where Group 1 was subjected to Landmark method and Group 2 to USG-guided method. Continuous variables were compared using unpaired t test and categorical variables using either the Chi square test. Access time (in seconds) was signicantly less in the USG group (258.78 ± 11.17) as opposed to Landmark technique (301.60 ± 14.03) (p 0.03). Accidental carotid artery puncture was seen in 9 patients in Landmark group as opposed to none in the USG group. No patient in any group developed pneumothorax. USG-guided technique is superior and safer than the traditional landmark technique in hands of anaesthesia trainee in terms of a shorter access time, and less incidence of arterial puncture which is desirable in COVID patients to shorten the exposure time. USG-guided method needs an assistant to focus the probe. Nonetheless, this training should be imparted to the trainee to ll the gap created by skilled doctors falling sick during COVID pandemic.

Coolsense® versus EMLA® for peripheral venous cannulation in adult volunteers: A randomised crossover trial

Peripheral venous cannulation (PVC) is a commonly performed invasive medical procedure. Topical treatments such as the eutectic mixture of local anaesthetics (EMLA®, Aspen Pharmacare Australia Pty Ltd, St Leonards, NSW) attenuate the associated pain, but are limited by requiring up to one hour of application before becoming effective. The Coolsense® (Coolsense Medical Ltd., Tel Aviv, Israel) pain numbing applicator is a new device using a cryoanalgesic means to anaesthetise skin within seconds. Coolsense is being increasingly used for cannulation, but comparative studies are lacking. We recruited 64 healthy adult volunteers to this open-label two sequence, two period randomised crossover trial. Participants had two 20 gauge venous cannulae inserted, one on the dorsum of each hand. Each cannulation attempt was preceded by treatment with Coolsense or an EMLA patch containing 2.5% lidocaine and 2.5% prilocaine. The primary outcome was participant pain using the 0–10 numerical pain rating scale. Secondary outcomes were participant satisfaction scores on a 0–10 scale, treatment preference, and failed cannulation attempts. Participants were randomly assigned to either the Coolsense EMLA ( n = 32) or EMLA Coolsense ( n = 32) sequence. All participants completed the trial. The pooled mean paired difference of the numerical pain rating scale was –1.84 (95% confidence intervals –1.28 to –2.41; P < 0.001) in favour of EMLA. The pooled mean paired difference for satisfaction score was 2.26 (95% confidence intervals 1.46 to 3.07; P < 0.001) higher with EMLA. Most participants preferred EMLA over Coolsense ( P < 0.001). There was no significant difference regarding failed cannulation between the two treatments ( P = 0.14). Among healthy individuals undergoing elective PVC, EMLA was associated with reduced pain, increased satisfaction, and was the preferred treatment compared to Coolsense.

Practical procedures

This chapter assesses the practical procedures in surgery. It begins with airway procedures, including the anaesthesia face mask, laryngeal mask airway (LMA), and endotracheal intubation. It also looks at percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy (PDT) and cricothyroidotomy, before differentiating between non-invasive and invasive ventilation. The chapter then turns to circulation procedures, including venepuncture and intravenous cannulation; interosseous access; central venous cannulation; arterial puncture and arterial cannulation; cardioversion; and defibrillation. It also considers the insertion and management of chest drain, which is used to drain pneumothoraces or pleural effusions. Finally, the chapter deals with pericardiocentesis; nasogastric tube insertion; urethral and suprapubic catheterisation; abdominal paracentesis; rigid sigmoidoscopy; and local and regional anaesthesia.

How We Perform a David Procedure With an Upper Hemisternotomy Approach

Objective Valve-sparing aortic root replacement (David procedure) is the technique of choice in appropriately selected patients with aortic root aneurysms. These procedures are seldom performed in a minimally invasive fashion. We describe our systematic approach to the David procedure using an upper hemisternotomy (UHS). Methods: Our method involves a J-type UHS exiting the right third or fourth intercostal space. Ascending aortic and femoral venous cannulation are performed using the Seldinger technique under transesophageal echocardiographic guidance. Between August 2005 and August 2014, 27 patients underwent an isolated elective David procedure using a full sternotomy (FS). Sixteen underwent an isolated elective UHS David procedure from May 2015 to February 2019. Perioperative safety outcomes were compared between the 2 cohorts. Results: The UHS and FS David cohorts were primarily male (87.5% and 85.2%, respectively) and 51 and 50 years old on average, respectively. Custodiol-histidine-tryptophan-ketoglutarate cardioplegia (93.8% vs 37.0%, P < 0.001) and Cor-Knot (100% vs 0%, P < 0.001) were used significantly more in the UHS David cohort. There were no significant differences in cardiopulmonary bypass (200 [183–208] vs 212 [183–223] min, P = 0.309) and aortic cross-clamp (169 [155–179] vs 188 [155–199] min, P = 0.128) times in the UHS and FS cohorts. There were no instances of hospital or 30-day mortality in either cohort. Intensive care unit and hospital stays were comparable between the 2 cohorts. Conclusions: The David procedure via UHS is a safe and reproducible technique for aortic root replacement.

The Venerable Subclavian Line

In this treatise, we will address one of the higher-risk procedures, subclavian vein cannulation, that a practitioner may undertake in the care of complex patients. All cardiothoracic surgeons and their trainees will need, on occasion, to put in central lines in a variety of circumstances, including in the operating room, in the intensive care unit, in emergency circumstances, and, occasionally, when other practitioners have been unsuccessful in their attempts to place a central line. We will describe, in detail, the anatomy of the subclavian vein, the preparation of the patient for subclavian vein cannulation, the infraclavicular approach to cannulation of the vein, and a few notes about the supraclavicular approach to the subclavian vein. It is self-evident that the priorities of central venous cannulation include safety of insertion, minimizing clot formation, and avoiding infection. We will dwell primarily on the principles of safe subclavian line insertion.

Lower limb amputation following venous cannulation for VA-ECMO: a case report

Lower limb amputation following arterial cannulation for VA-ECMO has been described in the literature. Limb ischemia however following venous cannulation is very rare and not quite understood. We present a case of limb ischemia following venous cannulation. A combination of venous congestion, compartment syndrome and subsequent arterial insufficiency is the proposed pathophysiology. Shock and use of vasopressors are compounding factors. Limb ischemia can be transient and reversible if diagnosed immediately and treated by early removal of the cannula. Our patient was unstable and ECMO dependent, and removal of the cannula was not an option. This resulted in limb loss and eventual above knee amputation. Use of the smallest appropriate venous cannula and early fasciotomy, in addition to hemodynamic optimization are measures that could help in preventing major amputation.

Microbiological profiles and prognostic factors of infection mortality in febrile neutropenic children with malignancy

Background Post-chemotherapy febrile neutropenia results in high morbidity and mortality in children with malignancy. Many prognostic factors, such as microorganism patterns, as well as the use of antibiotics and antifungals can affect the outcomes. However, limited study is available in Indonesia. Objective To determine the microbial profiles, antibiotic sensitivity, and other factors that influence mortality from febrile neutropenia in pediatric malignancies with infections. Methods This retrospective cohort and descriptive study of 180 children with 252 episodes of neutropenic fever was done in Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, Jakarta, between 2015 and 2017. Medical history of possible predictive prognostic factors, including microorganism patterns and antibiotic sensitivity, were recorded. Prognostic factors were analyzed using multivariate logistic regression tests. Results The most common bacteria was Gram-negative (54.5%), while Candida sp. was the most common fungal infection (82.5%). Klebsiella sp. was mainly sensitive to amikacin (85.71%), while Pseudomonas aeruginosa was sensitive to ceftazidime (75%), as well as amikacin and gentamicin (100% sensitivity in combination). Staphylococcus sp. was mainly sensitive to amoxi-clav and ampi-sulbactam (76.9%). Almost all fungal groups were susceptible to fluconazole, ketoconazole, voriconazole (80-100%). Prognostic factors that increased mortality risk were central venous cannulation (RR 1.947; 95%CI 1.114 to 3.402), wasting (RR 1.176; 95%CI 1.044 to 1.325), severe wasting (RR 1.241; 95%CI 0.975 to 1.579), and hematologic malignancies (RR 0.87; 95%CI 0.788 to 0.976). Conclusion Central venous cannulation and wasting are significant prognostic factors of increased mortality in children with febrile neutropenia. Gram negative bacteria along with Candida sp. is the most common pathogen in such condition.