RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To examine the safety and complications associated with percutaneous tracheostomy (PT) in critically ill coagulopathic patients under real-time ultrasound guidance. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Coagulopathy was defined as international normalized ratio (INR) ≥1.5 or thrombocytopenia (platelet count ≤50,000/mm3). Neck anatomy was assessed for all patients before the procedure and was characterized as excellent, good, satisfactory, and unsatisfactory based on the number of vessels in the path of needle. Percutaneous tracheostomy was performed under real-time ultrasound (USG) guidance, with certain modifications to the technique, and patients in both groups were assessed for immediate complications including bleeding. RESULTS: Six hundred and fifty-two patients underwent USG-guided PT. Three hundred and forty-five (52.9%) were coagulopathic before the procedure. Ninety-nine patients (15.2%) had an excellent neck anatomy on USG scan, and 112 patients (62 in coagulopathy group vs 50 in noncoagulopathy group, p value 0.386) had an unsatisfactory neck anatomy for tracheostomy. A total of 42 events of immediate complications were noted in 37 patients (5.7%). No difference was seen in the rate of immediate complications in both groups (5.8% in coagulopathy group vs 5.5% in noncoagulopathy group, p value 0.886). The incidence of minor bleeding in coagulopathic patients was 14 patients (4.1%) and 7 (2.3%) in those without coagulopathy, and this difference was not statistically different (p value-0.199). In the subgroup analysis of patients with significant coagulopathy and unsatisfactory anatomy, no difference was observed in the incidence of immediate complications. CONCLUSION: This study shows the efficacy and safety of real-time ultrasound-guided PT, even in patients with coagulopathy. HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Kumar P, Govil D, Patel SJ, Jagadeesh KN, Gupta S, Srinivasan S, et al. Percutaneous Tracheostomy under Real-time Ultrasound Guidance in Coagulopathic Patients: A Single-center Experience. Indian J Crit Care Med 2020;24(2):122-127.
RESUMO
Ultrasound (USG) guidance has long been used for guiding central venous catheterization. USG provides direct visualization of needle puncture through the skin into the vein. Most of the time USG guidance is just limited to puncturing of the vein and seeing guidewire entering the vein while malpositioning of catheter occurs after that which is seen later on while checking chest radiograph. Repositioning of catheter after that becomes not only difficult requiring repeated chest radiograph to reconfirm position of catheter but also increases chances of infection with repeated manipulations. USG guidance can be used for tracing both guidewire and catheter during the procedure to prevent malpositioning of catheter, thus when done at the right time can prevent complication related to malpositioning and repeated manipulations. We used linear USG probe to check malposition of guidewire and microconvex probe to confirm position of central venous catheter.
RESUMO
End-of-life decisions are being made daily in Intensive Care Units worldwide. The spectrum of options varies from full-continued care, withholding treatment, withdrawing treatment, and active life-ending procedures depending on the institutional practices and legal framework. Considering the complexity of the situation and the legalities involved, it is important to have a structured approach toward these sensitive decisions. It does make sense to have a protocol that ensures proper documentation and helps ease the physicians involved in such decisions. Clear documentation in the format of a checklist would ensure consistency and help the entire medical team to be uniformly informed about the end-of-life plan.