Ketamine-medetomidine compared to tiletamine-zolazepam-medetomidine for immobilisation of semi-captive cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus).

ABSTRACT: The immobilisation time and cardiopulmonary effects of ketamine-medetomidine (KM) and tiletamine-zolazepam-medetomidine (TZM) were compared in semi-captive cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus). Seven healthy adult cheetahs were included in a randomised prospective crossover study. Each cheetah was immobilised on two occasions by remote injection, once with a combination of ketamine (4.93 ± 0.75 mg/kg) and medetomidine (0.038 ± 0.003 mg/kg) (KM) and once with tiletamine-zolazepam (1.16 ± 0.12 mg/kg) and medetomidine (0.039 ± 0.002 mg/kg) (TZM). Time to safe approach, characterised by absent responses to an ear flick and tail tug, was recorded as the immobilisation time. Following immobilisation, cardiopulmonary parameters were recorded, and an arterial blood gas sample analysed. Data is reported as mean ± SD and compared using a general linear mixed model (p < 0.05). Immobilisation times were no different between combinations, 11.4 ± 5.7 minutes for KM and 13.2 ± 4.6 minutes for TZM (p = 0.528). Systolic blood pressure was 218 ± 22 mmHg for KM and 210 ± 28 mmHg for TZM (p = 0.594). There was moderate hypoxaemia with both combinations with arterial oxygen partial pressure of 58.4 ± 6.6 mmHg for KM and 61.3 ± 4.2 mmHg for TZM (p = 0.368). Haematocrit was higher with KM (40.7 ± 2.5) than TZM (35.8 ± 2.8, p = 0.007). There were differences in electrolytes, with TZM resulting in higher serum potassium (4.3 ± 0.2 mmol/L, p < 0.001) and glucose (11.8 ± 2.9 mmol/L, p = 0.039) than KM. Both combinations provided acceptable immobilisation for field use, although severe hypertension was a consistent finding. Supplementation with oxygen is recommended with both combinations.

Comparison of 10% povidone-iodine and 0.5% chlorhexidine gluconate for the prevention of peripheral intravenous catheter colonization in neonates: a prospective trial.

The purpose of the study was to compare the efficacy of 10% povidone-iodine with that of 0.5% chlorhexidine gluconate in 70% isopropyl alcohol for the prevention of peripheral intravenous catheter colonization in neonates. This was a multicenter, nonrandomized prospective study in a tertiary neonatal intensive care setting in which povidone-iodine and chlorhexidine gluconate were each used as antiseptic skin preparations over sequential 6-month periods. During the first 6 months of the study when povidone-iodine was in use 9.3% (38 of 408) of catheters were colonized. During the second 6 months of the study when chlorhexidine gluconate was in use, catheter colonization occurred in 4.7% (20 of 418, P = 0.01). Catheter-related bacteremia occurred during only 0.2% (2 of 826) of all catheterizations. Heavy skin colonization before catheter insertion (relative risk, 3.6; 95% confidence interval, 1.9, 7.0), catheterization > or = 72 hours (relative risk. 2.0; 95% confidence interval, 1.01, 3.8) and gestational age < or = 32 weeks (relative risk, 1.8; 95% confidence interval, 1.02, 3.3) increased colonization risk. Ampicillin infusion (relative risk, 0.4; 95% confidence interval, 0.2, 0.7) and 0.5% chlorhexidine gluconate cutaneous antisepsis (relative risk, 0.4; 95% confidence interval, 0.2, 0.8) were factors associated with decreased colonization risk. We conclude that 0.5% chlorhexidine gluconate in 70% isopropyl alcohol appears to be more efficacious than 10% povidone-iodine for the prevention of peripheral intravenous catheter colonization in neonates.

Hypocarbia before surfactant therapy appears to increase bronchopulmonary dysplasia risk in infants with respiratory distress syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To determine to what extent the risk of bronchopulmonary dysplasia is affected by ventilatory management before the first dose of rescue artificial surfactant. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SUBJECTS: One hundred eighty-eight low-birth-weight infants (< or = 1700 g) who received artificial surfactant therapy for respiratory distress syndrome and who were alive at 36 weeks of gestational age. OUTCOME: Bronchopulmonary dysplasia was defined by a need for supplemental oxygen to maintain an arterial saturation of 92% or more at 36 weeks of gestational age. RESULTS: Thirty-seven percent (70/188) of the cohort met study criteria for bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Early determinants significantly associated with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (given as odds ratio, 95% confidence interval) in the most parsimonious backward stepwise logistic regression model included the following: birth weight of 1000 g or less (5.1, 2.4 to 10.7), cesarean birth because of fetal distress (4.4, 1.7 to 11.4), ventilatory efficiency index of 0.15 or less before surfactant therapy (3.1, 1.4 to 6.8), arterial-alveolar oxygen ratio of 0.15 or less before surfactant therapy (2.2, 1.01 to 4.6), and a low arterial PCO2 (< or = 29 vs > or = 40 mm Hg, 5.6, 2.0 to 15.6; 30 to 39 vs > or = 40 mm Hg, 3.3, 1.3 to 8.3). The inverse relationship between hypocarbia and bronchopulmonary dysplasia persisted even in stratified analyses limited to infants with measures of cardiovascular or respiratory illness that suggested less severe manifestations of disease. CONCLUSIONS: Ventilatory management before rescue treatment with artificial surfactant therapy that result in hypocarbia may increase the risk of bronchopulmonary dysplasia. These findings suggest that early ventilatory management should not only provide adequate oxygenation but also limit hyperventilation.

A randomized trial comparing povidone-iodine to a chlorhexidine gluconate-impregnated dressing for prevention of central venous catheter infections in neonates.

UNLABELLED: Neonates who require a central venous catheter (CVC) for prolonged vascular access experience high rates of catheter-related bloodstream infection (CRBSI). PURPOSE: A multicenter randomized clinical trial was undertaken to ascertain the efficacy of a novel chlorhexidine-impregnated dressing (Biopatch Antimicrobial Dressing) on the CVC sites of neonates for the prevention of catheter tip colonization, CRBSI, and bloodstream infection (BSI) without a source. Setting. Six level III neonatal intensive care units. Patients Studied. Neonates admitted to study units who would require a CVC for at least 48 hours. METHODS: Eligible infants were randomized before catheter placement to 1 of the 2 catheter site antisepsis regimens: 1) 10% povidone-iodine (PI) skin scrub, or 2) a 70% alcohol scrub followed by placement of a chlorhexidine-impregnated disk over the catheter insertion site. A transparent polyurethane dressing (Bioclusive Transparent Dressing) was used to cover the insertion site in both study groups. Primary study outcomes evaluated were catheter tip colonization, CRBSI, and BSI without an identified source. RESULTS: Seven hundred five neonates were enrolled in the trial, 335 randomized to receive the chlorhexidine dressing and 370 to skin disinfection with PI (controls). Neonates randomized to the antimicrobial dressing group were less likely to have colonized CVC tips than control neonates (15.0% vs 24.0%, relative risk [RR]: 0.6 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.5-0.9). Rates of CRBSI (3.8% vs 3.2%, RR: 1.2, CI: 0.5-2.7) and BSI without a source (15.2% vs 14.3%, RR: 1.1, CI: 0.8-1.5) did not differ between the 2 groups. Localized contact dermatitis from the antimicrobial dressing, requiring crossover into the PI treatment group, occurred in 15 (15.3%) of 98 exposed neonates weighing