Complications of femoral and subclavian venous catheterization in critically ill patients: a randomized controlled trial.

CONTEXT: Whether venous catheterization at the femoral site is associated with an increased risk of complications compared with that at the subclavian site is debated. OBJECTIVE: To compare mechanical, infectious, and thrombotic complications of femoral and subclavian venous catheterization. DESIGN AND SETTING: Concealed, randomized controlled clinical trial conducted between December 1997 and July 2000 at 8 intensive care units (ICUs) in France. PATIENTS: Two hundred eighty-nine adult patients receiving a first central venous catheter. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were randomly assigned to undergo central venous catheterization at the femoral site (n = 145) or subclavian site (n = 144). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Rate and severity of mechanical, infectious, and thrombotic complications, compared by catheterization site in 289, 270, and 223 patients, respectively. RESULTS: Femoral catheterization was associated with a higher incidence rate of overall infectious complications (19.8% vs 4.5%; P<.001; incidence density of 20 vs 3.7 per 1000 catheter-days) and of major infectious complications (clinical sepsis with or without bloodstream infection, 4.4% vs 1.5%; P =.07; incidence density of 4.5 vs 1.2 per 1000 catheter-days), as well as of overall thrombotic complications (21.5% vs 1.9%; P<.001) and complete thrombosis of the vessel (6% vs 0%; P =.01); rates of overall and major mechanical complications were similar between the 2 groups (17.3% vs 18.8 %; P =.74 and 1.4% vs 2.8%; P =.44, respectively). Risk factors for mechanical complications were duration of insertion (odds ratio [OR], 1.05; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03-1.08 per additional minute; P<.001); insertion in 2 of the centers (OR, 4.52; 95% CI, 1.81-11.23; P =.001); and insertion during the night (OR, 2.06; 95% CI, 1.04-4.08; P =.03). The only factor associated with infectious complications was femoral catheterization (hazard ratio [HR], 4.83; 95% CI, 1.96-11.93; P<.001); antibiotic administration via the catheter decreased risk of infectious complications (HR, 0.41; 95% CI, 0.18-0.93; P =.03). Femoral catheterization was the only risk factor for thrombotic complications (OR, 14.42; 95% CI, 3.33-62.57; P<.001). CONCLUSION: Femoral venous catheterization is associated with a greater risk of infectious and thrombotic complications than subclavian catheterization in ICU patients.

[Diabetic hyperlipemia with or without acute pancreatitis in patients with chronic alcoholism. A study of 4 cases]. / Lipémie diabétique avec ou sans pancréatite aiguë chez l'alcoolique chronique. Etude de 4 observations.

Diabetic lipemia with and without acute pancreatitis in chronic alcoholism. A report of 4 cases. Diabetic lipemia was observed in 4 chronic alcoholic men after ingestion of high doses of alcohol and/or sugar-rich beverages, including one patient who was treated for insulin-dependent diabetes. None had a previous history of serum lipid disturbances. All had marked hyperglycemia, hyperosmolality and hypertriglyceridemia (mean: 60.8 mmol/l), 2 of undetermined type and 2 of type IV with eruptive xanthomas. Factitious hyponatremia was present in 3 cases, but true serum sodium was normal (138 mmol/l) or elevated (154, 156, 182 mmol/l) after correction. Three patients developed acute pancreatitis ascribed to high serum triglyceride levels and/or to alcohol ingestion. Serum and urine amylase activity was inhibited by hypertriglyceridemia. The diagnosis of pancreatitis was assessed twice by echography and computed tomographic scan, and once by tomographic scan and an elevation of the amylase on creatinine clearance ratio. It is likely that hypertriglyceridemia predisposed these patients to develop pancreatitis, alcoholism being a precipitating factor. We suggest that the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis should be systematically considered in any case of diabetic lipemia without true hyponatremia.