Identification and Analysis of Bacterial Contamination of Ultrasound Transducers and Multiuse Ultrasound Transmission Gel Bottle Tips Before and After the Aseptic Cleansing Technique.

OBJECTIVES: To provide a descriptive analysis for species identification of culture and Gram stain results from ultrasound transducers and multiuse ultrasound transmission gel bottle tips in active clinical use and to compare bacterial cultures from ultrasound transducers before and after aseptic cleansing. METHODS: A prospective blinded descriptive analytic study of 18 distinct clinical care sites within a single primary clinical institution was conducted. Before and after a disinfectant towel cleanse, transducers were pressed against tryptic soy agar contact plates. Plates were deidentified and submitted for blind incubation, Gram staining, and species identification with microsequencing. Results were classified as clinically relevant (CR) or non-clinically relevant. In total, 188 samples were analyzed: 80 from ultrasound transducers before and cleansing, 13 from multiuse gel bottle tips before and after cleansing, and 2 precleansing samples from the data collector's pen and badge. RESULTS: Fifty-nine precleansing samples (73.8%) grew cultures with CR bacteria, and 21 samples (26.3%) did not. Staphylococcus simulans represented 31.0% of all positive culture samples. Thirteen postcleansing samples (16.3%) grew cultures with CR bacteria, equating to a 78.0% reduction of CR bacterial growth (likelihood ratio, 57.10; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasound transducers have a notable CR bacterial burden and may serve as potential infective vectors. Aseptic cleansing effectively eliminates most of the bacterial load from ultrasound transducers, but some bacteria persist, presenting a risk of nosocomial infection with ultrasound-guided interventions. These findings support American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine 2018 guidelines intended to ensure an appropriate level of transducer preparation based on the examination type while emphasizing rational infection control measures to minimize the risk of potential patient harm.

Exploratory analysis of myocardial function after extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation vs conventional cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

OBJECTIVE: Ventricular unloading is associated with myocardial recovery. We sought to evaluate the association of extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) on myocardial function after cardiac arrest. We conducted a retrospective exploratory analysis, comparing ejection fraction (EF) after adult cardiac arrest, between ECPR and conventional CPR. RESULTS: Among 1119 cases of cardiac arrest, 116 had an echocardiogram post-return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) and were included. Thirty-eight patients had ≥ 2 echocardiograms. ECPR patients had differences in age, hypertension and chronic heart failure. ECPR patients had a lower EF post-ROSC (24% vs 45%; p < 0.01) and were more likely to undergo percutaneous coronary intervention (25% vs 3%; p < 0.01). In multivariate analysis, only ECPR use (ß-coeff: 10.4 [95% CI 3.68-17.13]; p < 0.01) independently predicted improved myocardial function. In this exploratory study, EF after cardiac arrest may be more likely to improve among ECPR patients than CCPR patients. Our methodology should be replicated to confirm or refute the validity of our findings.

Transesophageal Echocardiography During Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Is Associated With Shorter Compression Pauses Compared With Transthoracic Echocardiography.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: Point-of-care ultrasonography provides diagnostic information in addition to visual pulse checks during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). The most commonly used modality, transthoracic echocardiography, has unfortunately been repeatedly associated with prolonged pauses in chest compressions, which correlate with worsened neurologic outcomes. Unlike transthoracic echocardiography, transesophageal echocardiography does not require cessation of compressions for adequate imaging and provides the diagnostic benefit of point-of-care ultrasonography. To assess a benefit of transesophageal echocardiography, we compare the duration of chest compression pauses between transesophageal echocardiography, transthoracic echocardiography, and manual pulse checks on video recordings of cardiac arrest resuscitations. METHODS: We analyzed 139 pulse check CPR pauses among 25 patients during cardiac arrest. RESULTS: Transesophageal echocardiography provided the shortest mean pulse check duration (9 seconds [95% confidence interval {CI} 5 to 12 seconds]). Mean pulse check duration with transthoracic echocardiography was 19 seconds (95% CI 16 to 22 seconds), and it was 11 seconds (95% CI 8 to 14 seconds) with manual checks. Intraclass correlation coefficient between abstractors for a portion of individual and average times was 0.99 and 0.99, respectively (P<.001 for both). CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that pulse check times with transesophageal echocardiography are shorter versus with transthoracic echocardiography for ED point-of-care ultrasonography during cardiac arrest resuscitations, and further emphasizes the need for careful attention to compression pause duration when using transthoracic echocardiography for point-of-care ultrasonography during ED cardiac arrest resuscitations.

Transesophageal Echocardiography: Guidelines for Point-of-Care Applications in Cardiac Arrest Resuscitation.

Cardiac arrest is one of the most challenging patient presentations managed by emergency care providers, and echocardiography can be instrumental in the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment guidance in these critically ill patients. Transesophageal echocardiography has many advantages over transthoracic echocardiography in a cardiac arrest resuscitation. As transesophageal echocardiography is implemented more widely at the point of care during cardiac arrest resuscitations, guidelines are needed to assist emergency providers in acquiring the equipment and skills necessary to successfully incorporate it into the management of cardiac arrest victims.

Development and Implementation of a Comprehensive, Multidisciplinary Emergency Department Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Program.

Despite advances in the medical and surgical management of cardiovascular disease, greater than 350,000 patients experience out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in the United States annually, with only a 12% neurologically favorable survival rate. Of these patients, 23% have an initial shockable rhythm of ventricular fibrillation/pulseless ventricular tachycardia (VF/VT), a marker of high probability of acute coronary ischemia (80%) as the precipitating factor. However, few patients (22%) will experience return of spontaneous circulation and sufficient hemodynamic stability to undergo cardiac catheterization and revascularization. Previous case series and observational studies have demonstrated the successful application of intra-arrest extracorporeal life support, including to out-of-hospital cardiac arrest victims, with a neurologically favorable survival rate of up to 53%. For patients with refractory cardiac arrest, strategies are needed to bridge them from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest to the catheterization laboratory and revascularization. To address this gap, we expanded our ICU and perioperative extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) program to the emergency department (ED) to reach this cohort of patients to improve survival. In this report, we illustrate our process and initial experience of developing a multidisciplinary team for rapid deployment of ED ECMO as a template for institutions interested in building their own ED ECMO programs.

Practice characteristics of Emergency Department extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (eCPR) programs in the United States: The current state of the art of Emergency Department extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ED ECMO).

PURPOSE: To characterize the current scope and practices of centers performing extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (eCPR) on the undifferentiated patient with cardiac arrest in the emergency department. METHODS: We contacted all US centers in January 2016 that had submitted adult eCPR cases to the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO) registry and surveyed them, querying for programs that had performed eCPR in the Emergency Department (ED ECMO). Our objective was to characterize the following domains of ED ECMO practice: program characteristics, patient selection, devices and techniques, and personnel. RESULTS: Among 99 centers queried, 70 responded. Among these, 36 centers performed ED ECMO. Nearly 93% of programs are based at academic/teaching hospitals. 65% of programs are less than 5 years old, and 60% of programs perform ≤3 cases per year. Most programs (90%) had inpatient eCPR or salvage ECMO programs prior to starting ED ECMO programs. The majority of programs do not have formal inclusion and exclusion criteria. Most programs preferentially obtain vascular access via the percutaneous route (70%) and many (40%) use mechanical CPR during cannulation. The most commonly used console is the Maquet Rotaflow(®). Cannulation is most often performed by cardiothoracic (CT) surgery, and nearly all programs (>85%) involve CT surgeons, perfusionists, and pharmacists. CONCLUSIONS: Over a third of centers that submitted adult eCPR cases to ELSO have performed ED ECMO. These programs are largely based at academic hospitals, new, and have low volumes. They do not have many formal inclusion or exclusion criteria, and devices and techniques are variable.

Emergency physician-performed transesophageal echocardiography for extracorporeal life support vascular cannula placement.

INTRODUCTION: There is growing interest and application of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) as a life-saving procedure for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA), also called extracorporeal life support (ECLS). Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation cannulation with ongoing chest compressions is challenging, and transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is an invaluable tool with which to guide ECMO wire guidance and cannula positioning. METHODS: We describe our protocol for TEE guidance by emergency physicians in our hospital. RESULTS: Of our first 12 cases of ECLS, 10 have had TEE guidance by an emergency physician with successful placement and without complication or need for repositioning. Emergency physician-performed TEE for ECLS vascular cannula placement has been both feasible and useful in our experience and warrants further study.

Picosecond laser damage performance assessment of multilayer dielectric gratings in vacuum.

Precise assessment of the high fluence performance of pulse compressor gratings is necessary to determine the safe operational limits of short-pulse high energy lasers. We have measured the picosecond laser damage behavior of multilayer dielectric (MLD) diffraction gratings used in the compression of chirped pulses on the Advanced Radiographic Capability (ARC) kilojoule petawatt laser system at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL). We present optical damage density measurements of MLD gratings using the raster scan method in order to estimate operational performance. We also report results of R-on-1 tests performed with varying pulse duration (1-30 ps) in air, and clean vacuum. Measurements were also performed in vacuum with controlled exposure to organic contamination to simulate the grating use environment. Results show sparse defects with lower damage resistance which were not detected by small-area damage test methods.

Ultrasound-guided subclavian vein cannulation using a micro-convex ultrasound probe.

BACKGROUND: The subclavian vein is the preferred site for central venous catheter placement due to infection risk and patient comfort. Ultrasound guidance is useful in cannulation of other veins, but for the subclavian vein, current ultrasound-guided techniques using high-frequency linear array probes are generally limited to axillary vein cannulation. METHODS: We report a series of patients who underwent clinically indicated subclavian venous catheter placement using a micro-convex pediatric probe for real-time guidance in the vein's longitudinal axis. We identified rates of successful placement and complications by chart review. RESULTS: Twenty-four catheters were placed using the micro-convex pediatric probe with confirmation of placement of the needle medial to the lateral border of the first rib. Sixteen of the catheters were placed by trainee physicians. In 23 patients, the catheter was placed without complication (hematoma, pneumothorax, infection). In one patient, the vein could not be safely cannulated without risk of arterial puncture, so an alternative site was selected. CONCLUSIONS: Infraclavicular subclavian vein cannulation using real-time ultrasound with a micro-convex pediatric probe appears to be a safe and effective method of placing subclavian vascular catheters. This technique merits further study to confirm safety and efficacy.

Web-based emergency department patient satisfaction surveys may introduce potential for bias.

BACKGROUND: Emergency departments (ED) have proposed utilizing a Web-based format to distribute patient satisfaction surveys, but the potential for bias in this distribution method has not been assessed. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the characteristics of ED patients who have access to the Internet to better understand potential bias in Web-based patient satisfaction surveys. METHODS: We distributed a 20-question survey to consenting, English-speaking adult patients presenting to the ED from December 2010 to March 2012. Patients reported demographic information and answered questions related to their access and use of the Internet. RESULTS: Seven hundred four patients participated in the study; 90% of Whites reported Internet access, vs. 82% of Hispanics (p = 0.034). Ninety-two percent of patients with at least some college education had Internet access, compared to 79% of those with a high school education level or lower (p ≤ 0.001). Of households reporting an income of > $22,000/year, 95% had Internet access, compared to 77% of those reporting a household income < $22,000/year (p ≤ 0.001). Ninety-four percent of participants < 40 years of age had Internet access, compared to 83% between the ages of 40 and 56 years, and 77% for those over 56 years of age (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: A Web-based distribution of ED patient satisfaction surveys may underrepresent minorities, patients without college education, those with lower income, and patients older than 40 years. This information may provide guidance in interpreting results of Web-based patient satisfaction surveys and may suggest the need for multiple sampling methods.