Optimal head rotation angle for safe right internal jugular vein catheterization using out-of-plane approach: an ultrasonography study.

AIM: The most common complication following internal jugular vein catheterization is the puncture of the common carotidartery. We aimed to find an optimal head rotation angle for safe vein catheter insertion while minimizing the risk of arterypuncture. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighty-two patients admitted to the intensive care unit were included in the prospective study. Ultrasound examination of the neck vessels on the right side was performed in the neutral position and at a head rotation of 15°, 30°, 45° and 60° to the left. Internal jugular vein and common carotid artery puncture angle, overlapping angle of vein by artery and vein safe puncture angle were evaluated. RESULTS: The internal jugular vein puncture angle increased with head rotation from the neutral position to 30° and 45° and was largest at 60° (p<0.001 for all). The overlapping angle increased significantly at 45° and 60° rotation compared with the neutral position (p<0.001 for all). The vein safe puncture angle was highest at 30° and significantly different from the neutral position and 60° (p=0.003 and p=0.013, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: When performing right internal jugular vein catheterization without ultrasound guidance by using an out-of-plane technique, the head should be rotated at 30°, because the overlapping angle increases with further head rotation and can increase the risk of artery puncture.

Long-term quality of life and posttraumatic stress following elective cardiac surgery: preliminary findings of a 5-year follow-up study.

BACKGROUND: Heart surgery is a major stressful event that can have a significant negative effect on patients' quality of life (QoL) and may cause long-term posttraumatic stress reactions. The aim of this pilot study was to estimate the longitudinal change and predictors of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) dynamics and identify factors associated with PTS at 5-year follow-up (T2) after elective cardiac surgery and associations with pre-surgery (T1) QoL. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Single-centre prospective study was conducted after Regional Bioethics Committee approval. Adult consecutive patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery were included. HRQOL was measured using the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) questionnaire before (T1) and 5-years after (T2) cardiac surgery. Posttraumatic stress was assessed using the International Trauma Questionnaire. RESULTS: The pilot study revealed a significant positive change at 5-year follow-up in several domains of SF-36: physical functioning (PF), energy/fatigue (E/F), and social functioning (SF). Prolonged postoperative hospital stay was associated with change in SF (p < 0.01), E/F (p < 0.05) and emotional well-being (p < 0.05). The percentage of patients that had the posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) at T2 was 12.2%. Posttraumatic stress symptoms were associated with longer hospitalization after surgery (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: HRQOL improved from baseline to five years postoperatively. Patients with lower preoperative HRQOL scores tended to have a more significant improvement of HRQOL five years after surgery. A prolonged postoperative hospital stay had a negative impact on postoperative social functioning, energy/fatigue, and emotional well-being. Increased levels of PTSD were found in cardiac surgery patients following five years after the surgery.

Concordance of the new ESPEN criteria with low phase angle in defining early stages of malnutrition in cardiac surgery.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of malnutrition (MN) in cardiac surgery patients by implementing the new ESPEN diagnostic criteria and to determine whether these criteria are concordant with the bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) provided phase angle (PA) in predicting early stages of malnutrition. METHODS: A prospective study was conducted in a tertiary hospital. The nutritional state of the cardiac surgery patients was evaluated one day prior to cardiac surgery using the malnutrition screening tools NRS-2002, MUST and SF-MNA, and bioelectrical impedance analysis. Patients at risk of malnutrition were further studied in accordance with the ESPEN malnutrition diagnostic criteria. A BIA provided PA value of less than the 15th percentile of the age and gender group was set as a theoretical marker of early malnutrition. ROC AUC (receiver operating characteristic area under curve) analysis and other parameters were calculated to determine the concordance between the new ESPEN malnutrition diagnostic criteria and a low PA. RESULTS: The study comprised 549 enrolled cardiac surgery patients. MN or risk of MN in accordance with at least one nutritional status assessment tool was diagnosed in 372 (67.75%) patients. MN, according to the new ESPEN malnutrition diagnostic criteria, was only diagnosed in 31 (5.6%) patients. Low PA was detected in 124 patients (22.6%), providing a higher MN rate. The ROC analysis and other concordance parameters showed that the new ESPEN diagnostic criteria (AUC 0.560, p = 0.042) were not concordant with a low PA. CONCLUSION: Fewer patients are classified as malnourished by the new ESPEN definition as those identified by the BIA provided PA. Incorporation of the BIA provided PA into the new ESPEN definition may aid to diagnose the early stages of MN in the field of cardiac surgery.