Three-step method for ultrasound-guided central vein catheterization.

BACKGROUND: The long-axis view and in-plane needle approach (LAX-IP) for ultrasound-guided central vein catheterization is considered ideal because of the quality of real-time imaging. We describe a novel technique, using a step-by-step procedure, to overcome the pitfalls associated with the LAX-IP. This study was undertaken to demonstrate the clinical utility of this approach. METHODS: All operators underwent training before participation in this study. One hundred patients were enrolled in this study and underwent central venous catheterization using this method. Using a portable ultrasound and vein catheterization kit, patients were appropriately positioned and a straight portion of the vein identified (Step 1). A needle guide was used (Step 2) and the vein imaged in real time in two directions (Step 3), to identify the true long axis and prevent damage to surrounding tissues. RESULTS: The overall success rate for catheterization was 100% with a median of one puncture for each patient. All catheterizations were performed within three punctures. Problems with the first puncture included difficult insertion of the guide-wire due to coiling, difficult anterior wall puncture, less experience with the procedure, and other reasons. There were no complications associated with the procedure. CONCLUSIONS: This three-step method is not dependent on an operator's ability to proceed based on spatial awareness, but rather depends on logic. This method can prevent difficulties associated with a two-dimensional ultrasound view, and may be a safer technique compared with others. Further clinical trials are needed to establish the safety of this technique.

Carcinoembryonic antigen level in serum and pleural lavage fluid in non-small cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: This study evaluates the tumor marker index (TMI) based on carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels in serum and pleural lavage fluid as a potential prognostic determinant for patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three hundred and eighty-three consecutive NSCLC patients were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: The 5-year survival of patients with normal and high serum CEA levels was 71.78% and 51.38%, respectively (P < 0.0001). The 5-year survival of patients with high CEA levels in pleural lavage fluid was 25.0%, which was significantly poorer compared with that of patients with normal lavage CEA levels (78.23%, P < 0.0001). There was a 5-year survival rate of 73.75% in patients with a TMI less than or equal to 1.0 compared to a rate of only 55.12% in patients with a TMI greater than 1.0 (P < 0.001). Both univariate and multivariate analyses indicated the independent prognostic impact of the TMI. CONCLUSIONS: The TMI based on serum and lavage CEA levels might be useful for predicting the prognosis of NSCLC patients.

Cerebral blood flow and cerebral oxygen consumption in patients with COPD on mechanical ventilation.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of PaCO2 on cerebral blood flow (CBF) in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). DESIGN: Before-after trial. SETTING: General ICU in a regional hospital. PATIENTS: 7 patients undergoing mechanical ventilation because of an exacerbation of COPD. INTERVENTION: CBF and cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen (CMRO2) of COPD were measured before and after hyperventilation and were compared by those of normal patients. CBF was measured by the Kety-Schmidt technique using 15% N2O. MEASUREMENTS/RESULTS: Hyperventilation produced a significant reduction in CBF in COPD with no concomitant change in CMRO2. CMRO2 in COPD was significantly lower than those in normal patients. The regression equation was shifted significantly more to the right in COPD. CONCLUSION: The sensitivity of CBF in CO2 remained but CMRO2 was reduced markedly in COPD patients.

The effects of inversed ratio ventilation (IRV) on arterial oxygenation during mechanical ventilation in patients with acute respiratory failure.

We investigated the effects of inversed ratio ventilation by altering the inspiratory:expiratory (I:E) ratio and assessing the time course changes in the intrapulmonary shunting (Qs/Qt) in 14 patients with acute respiratory failure. Stepwise prolongation of the I:E ratio from 1:1.9 to 2:1 and then to 2.6 or 4:1 was applied when PEEP failed to raise the PaO2 above 80 mmHg while breathing oxygen. A significant decrease in Qs/Qt was observed following prolongation of the I:E ratio from 1:1.9 (Qs/Qt = 45 +/- 9%) to 2:1 (Qs/Qt = 29 +/- 9%) but not with further prolongation of the I:E ratio (Qs/Qt = 27 +/- 7%). Improvement of the pulmonary ventilation/perfusion imbalance became more marked with continued IRV and a significant increase in PaO2 was observed at 6 h after initiating prolongation of the inspiratory time (P less than 0.05). There were no significant changes in hemodynamics, PaCO2, or peak inspiratory pressure during IRV. This ventilatory pattern may be indicated when PEEP fails to improve PaO2, but prolongation of the inspiratory time above an I:E ratio of 2:1 did not produce a greater improvement in Qs/Qt and further increases in PaO2 did not occur after more than 10 h of IRV in our 14 patients.

Cerebrovascular reactivity to CO2 in patients with hepatic or septic encephalopathy.

The authors studied the effects of hypocapnic-hyperventilation on cerebral blood flow (CBF) (study 1) and on cerebral oxygenation (study 2) during mechanical ventilation in 8 patients, 4 with hepatic (HE) and 4 with septic encephalopathy (SE). In study 1, a positive linear relationship between CBF(y) and PaCO2 (x) was observed (y = 2.44x - 55.5, r = 0.6276, P less than 0.01, n = 18). In the study 2, hypocapnic-hyperventilation produced a reduction in CBF below the level required to meet the demand in 4 of 8 patients. A good linear relationship was observed between CBF/CMRO2 (CMRO2 = cerebral oxygen consumption, y) and jugular venous PO2 (PjVO2, x) (y = 0.99x - 15.53, r = 0.8962, P less than 0.01, n = 18). It is concluded that cerebrovascular reactivity to CO2 was preserved in these patients, therefore, intentional or inadvertant hyperventilation may produce cerebral ischemia. Moreover, JPVO2 may be useful in monitoring cerebral oxygenation in such patients.

[Epidural anesthesia for cesarean section in a twin pregnant patient with severe aortic stenosis].

A 35-year-old twin primigravida with aortic stenosis underwent cesarean section under epidural anesthesia. She had her ventricular septal defect repaired at 3 years of age. Preoperative ultrasonic study revealed severe aortic stenosis in which valve area was 0.77 cm2 and pressure gradient between the left ventricle and the aorta was 80 mmHg. We persuaded her and her husband to discontinue pregnancy and recommended aortic valve replacement surgery. They rejected our suggestions, and cesarean section was scheduled at 29 weeks' gestation. We chose epidural anesthesia. A 20-gauge catheter and a pulmonary artery catheter were inserted to monitor the hemodynamics. Two lumbar epidural catheters were placed at the L 1-2 and L 4-5 intervertebral spaces. Sixteen milliliters of 1.5% mepivacaine were injected, producing anesthesia up to T 6 level. The babies were delivered, and postnatal conditions of both infants were satisfactory. Methoxamine 1 mg was administered four times when systolic blood pressure decreased to 80 mmHg following deliveries. Otherwise, peripartal hemodynamics was stable, and she was transferred to the intensive care unit (ICU). Postoperative pain was controlled with epidural infusion of fentanyl. She did not complain of chest pain perioperatively and was discharged from the ICU next day.

Combined effects of inversed ratio ventilation (IRV) with positive end-expiratory pressure ventilation (PEEP) on cardiorespiratory function in acute respiratory failure.

Combined effects of inversed ratio ventilation (IRV) with positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) on cardiorespiratory function were examined in 24 patients with acute respiratory failure. Patients were divided into two groups: the IRV group (n = 12) who showed no significant increase in Pa(O)(2) with a 6 cmH(2)O of PEEP and PEEP group (n = 12) who were ventilated mechanically with PEEP only at maximum level of 10 cmH(2)O. In IRV group step-wise prolongation of the I : E ratio from 1 : 1.9 to 2.6 : 1 or 4 : 1 was applied as a Pa(O)(2) was improved and in PEEP group also level of PEEP was increased from 0, 5 to 10 cmH(2)O after one hour period irrespective of Pa(O)(2). Inversed ratio ventilation and PEEP increased significantly Pa(O)(2)/F i(O)(2), the increase being observed 6 hrs (I : E = 2 : 1) and 2 hrs (10 cmH(2)O) after starting IRV or PEEP. Further improvement of oxygenation was not observed in IRV even if I : E ratio was prolonged up to 2.6 : 1 or 4 : 1. These results suggested that combinations of IRV with PEEP were effective and an I : E ratio of 2 : 1 may be optimal, and IRV is advantageous compared to PEEP, but will take more long time to improve oxygenation than PEEP.

Fentanyl pretreatment attenuates the haemodynamic response to sudden inhalation of 5% isoflurane.

High concentrations of inhaled isoflurane can increase heart rate and/or arterial pressure. The purpose of this study was to determine whether fentanyl has a prophylactic effect on the isoflurane-induced circulatory response in adult patients. Thirty patients due to undergo elective surgery were randomly allocated to one of three groups of ten patients. Prior to surgery, one group inhaled 2.5% isoflurane, another inhaled 5.0% isoflurane, and the third group inhaled 5.0% isoflurane and were given fentanyl 2 micrograms.kg-1 i.v. two minutes before induction of anaesthesia. Anaesthesia was induced with thiamylal followed by vecuronium. The lungs were ventilated with 100% oxygen and either 2.5% or 5.0% isoflurane via face mask. Ventilation was continued for five minutes. Heart rate (HR) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were recorded at two minutes before induction of anaesthesia (baseline), immediately before the induction of anaesthesia, and at three and five minutes after induction, respectively. It was found that 5.0% isoflurane caused an increase in HR compared with baseline (P < 0.01) and with the 2.5% isoflurane (P < 0.05): 2.5% isoflurane did not elicit this response. An increase was also noted in MAP, compared with the 2.5% isoflurane (P < 0.01): 2.5% isoflurane did not elicit this increase. Fentanyl pretreatment attenuated the increases in HR and in MAP that occurred with 5.0% isoflurane (P < 0.01). These results suggest that fentanyl attenuates the enhancement of both HR and MAP from face mask inhalation of a high concentration of isoflurane.

Cerebral arteriovenous oxygen content difference during barbiturate therapy in patients with acute brain damage.

This study evaluated the reliability of cerebral blood flow equivalent (CBFE), which was calculated as the reciprocal of cerebral arteriovenous oxygen content difference (C(av)DO2) as a monitor during barbiturate therapy in patients with cerebral ischemic insults. A barbiturate (thiamylal) was administered at a rate of 3 mg . kg-1 . hr-1 for 2-5 days to four patients who had suffered cardiac arrest, four with acute focal ischemia, two with postoperative brain edema after neurosurgery, and one with brain damage due to asphyxia. Four of the 11 patients completely recovered neurologically (recovery group), and others had neurological sequelae or died (nonrecovery group). The mean value of CBFE in the recovery group decreased significantly with barbiturate therapy to 13 +/- 1 ml blood/ml O2 from 39 +/- 3 ml blood/ml O2 but did not decrease in the nonrecovery group. We conclude that CBFE can be useful for monitoring the effect of barbiturate therapy in ischemic brain insults.

The effects of dopamine infusion during operation on the postoperative liver dysfunction.

Dopamine improves renal function and renal blood flow by increasing cardiac output but its effect to ameriolate postoperative liver dysfunction has not yet been defined. Effect of 3-5 microg.kg(-1).min(-1) dopamine was studied in 22 patients who had total gastrectomy (dopamine group), and was compared with 22 patients who underwent the same operation and without dopamine infusion (control group). Liver function was evaluated from serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) and serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) values. Although postoperative SGOT and SGPT values in both groups were increased significantly higher than the preoperative values, the increases in SGOT (40 +/- 14 IU) and SGPT (32 +/- 15 IU) values in the dopamine group were significantly less than those in the control group (67 +/- 27 IU, 43 +/- 19 IU) ( P < 0.05, P < 0.01).In conclusion, these results suggested that this observation might be explained by amelioration of the postoperative liver dysfunction by infusion of dopamine. Dopamine infusion at a small dose during upper abdominal surgery is beneficial for liver function.

Acute normovolemic hemodilution for radical prostatectomy: can it replace preoperative autologous blood transfusion?

BACKGROUND: Although preoperative autologous blood donation (PAD) is accepted as a standard of care for radical prostatectomy, it is costly, time-consuming and has risks associated with blood storage. Acute normovolemic hemodilution (ANH) is reported to be less expensive and to preserve blood components more effectively than PAD. In the present study, the efficacy and safety of these two autologous blood-collection techniques were compared. METHODS: The study included 16 consecutive patients scheduled for radical prostatectomy. The first eight patients underwent conventional preoperative autologous blood donation of 400 mL 1 week before the operation (PAD group) and the second eight patients underwent acute normovolemic hemodilution followed by immediate operation (ANH group). All blood collected was transfused in the perioperative period. Preoperative and postoperative hematocrit levels in these two groups were compared. RESULTS: There were no differences in preoperative hematocrit, time of operation or operative blood loss between the two groups. In the ANH group, 1080 +/- 160 mL of blood were collected. The postoperative hematocrit level did not differ significantly between the groups. No patient in either group received allogeneic blood transfusion or experienced an adverse event directly related to blood transfusion. CONCLUSION: The two blood-conservation strategies resulted in similar postoperative hematologic outcomes. Given its advantages, which include lower cost, lower risk and higher convenience, ANH is one of the procedures that may replace conventional PAD for use in radical prostatectomy.