A web-based self-learning system for ultrasound-guided vascular access.

Ultrasound-guided vascular access is practiced widely. Optimal educational methods have not yet been established. We hypothesized that a step-by-step web-based learning system is effective for self-learning. In this study, we examined the potential of this system as a self-learning tool. This was an observational study at a single institution. Participants included residents, who were self-educated through the web-based system. Skill proficiency was measured after self-learning. The primary outcome was the extent to which self-learning enabled residents to acquire proficiency in the basic skills of ultrasound-guided vascular access: needle visualization, hand-eye coordination, and avoiding posterior wall penetration. A secondary outcome was the time required to achieve proficiency. Thirty-nine residents were enrolled in this study. Eleven residents (28%) passed the first skill assessment test. There was no significant difference in the number of days that the web-based system was accessed, the total number of screen views, or the total learning time between participants who passed and those who failed the first test. Skill assessment scores between those who passed and those who failed the first test were different, especially the score for hand-eye coordination, and the number of posterior wall penetrations. Self-learning with a web-based system enabled 28% of residents to pass the first skill assessment test. The remaining 72% failed the first skill assessment test but continued to learn using the web-based system and eventually passed the test. Hence, the web-based system needed formative testing to function as a self-learning system. Simulation education for vascular access is expected to increase in educational content and methods. Self-learning through a web-based learning system is a leading candidate for this growth.

Development, implementation, and refinement of a comprehensive postcardiac arrest care training course in Japan.

Aim: In Japan, no training course is dedicated to postcardiac arrest care (PCAC), including venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO); thus, faculty members of the Japanese Circulation Society developed an original, comprehensive PCAC training course. This report reviews the development, implementation, and refinement of this PCAC training course. Methods: We examined the preserved data from the Japanese Circulation Society PCAC training courses between 2014 and 2020. Data related to the learning content and number of the attendees and instructors were collected and summarized. Results: Sixteen courses were held between August 2014 and February 2020, before the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. A total of 677 health care providers participated: 351 doctors, 225 nurses, 62 perfusionists, five emergency medical professionals, and two pharmacists. Thirty-two attendees' data were missing. The core learning contents of all the courses included a standardized postcardiac arrest algorithm, targeted temperature management, VA-ECMO cannulation skills, and postcannulation management. Concerning curriculum evolution, extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation simulation, postarrest neurological examination and monitoring, and ultrasound-guided Seldinger technique training were added in the 4th, 5th, and 13th courses, respectively. Conclusion: The Japanese Circulation Society PCAC training course has been developed and refined to provide an organized, comprehensive opportunity for health care providers to acquire specific knowledge and skills in PCAC and VA-ECMO.

Post-surgical pseudoaneurysm of the corona mortis artery treated by arterial embolization from two arteries: A case report.

Post-surgical pseudoaneurysm in the pelvis is rare. However, when it does occur, it may cause life-threatening hemorrhage. Hemostatic treatment for pelvic pseudoaneurysms may be complicated because the blood vessels in the pelvis may present with various anastomoses. Herein, we describe a case of a pseudoaneurysm that necessitated embolization of two arteries. A 47-year-old woman had undergone a total hysterectomy, a bilateral adnexectomy, and a pelvic lymphadenectomy for endometrial cancer; 13 days after surgery, she complained of sudden abdominal pain. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography revealed a retroperitoneal hematoma and a pseudoaneurysm with contrast leakage. The pseudoaneurysm had two feeding arteries (from the external and internal iliac systems). The first feeding artery was the obturator artery, which arose from the anterior trunk of the internal iliac artery. The second feeding artery was the aberrant obturator artery, which arose from the medial femoral circumflex artery. Both feeders were embolized and hemostasis was achieved. Pseudoaneurysms in the pelvis may have double origins from the external and internal iliac systems, and the aberrant obturator artery may arise from the medial femoral circumflex artery. Therefore, radiologists should be aware of these variations to effectively address post-surgical pseudoaneurysms of the corona mortis artery.

A novel system for teaching the in-plane vascular access technique: A simulation study.

ABSTRACT: The long-axis in-plane approach is amenable to ultrasound-guided central venous catheterization. However, the long-axis in-plane approach is considered difficult to learn because the needle should remain visible in the ultrasound beam during the procedure. We developed a novel competency-based modular system to acquire the skills for the long-axis in-plane approach. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of this system.The study was approved by the local ethics committee. Participants performed ultrasound guided venous catheterization (pre-test), attended a 2-hour hands-on session with the teaching system and were then evaluated again (posttest). The teaching system is a simulator device consisting of an ultrasound probe, a simulated vessel, a needle, and an endoscope connected to a computer to visualize the image inside the simulated vessel. The success rate, visualization of the needle tip, and puncture accuracy were measured before and after training. The puncture accuracy was determined by evaluating the distance of the needle tip and needle shaft from the center of a simulated vessel. Primary outcomes were the success rate and the puncture accuracy. The secondary outcome was needle tip visualization. McNemar test was used to analyze success rate and needle tip visualization. Tukey test was used to analyze puncture accuracy. A P value <.05 was considered statistically significant.Forty-seven participants were enrolled in this study. The success rate was significantly increased (pre-test 79%, posttest 94%, P = .04). Ultrasound images from 42 participants were analyzed for puncture accuracy. Puncture accuracy significantly increased for needle tip distance (P = .03), but not shaft distance (P = .1). The needle tip visualization was significantly improved (P = .02).A novel competency-based teaching system was constructed in a step-by-step manner, which improved needle tip visualization and puncture accuracy, with a higher success rate.

Serum Magnesium Levels and Neurological Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Targeted Temperature Management After Cardiac Arrest.

INTRODUCTION: Magnesium plays a neuroprotective role at the physiologic level, but its neuroprotective role in patients undergoing targeted temperature management for cardiac arrest is not well established. We performed multiple logistic regression analysis to evaluate whether magnesium levels can predict neurological outcomes in patients undergoing targeted temperature management after cardiac arrest. METHODS: We retrospectively investigated data on 86 patients who had undergone targeted temperature management after cardiac arrest between December 2015 and November 2017. The primary outcome was to determine whether magnesium levels predict unfavorable neurological outcomes for patients with return of spontaneous circulation after targeted temperature management. Cerebral Performance Category 3, 4, or 5 indicated unfavorable neurological outcomes. We performed multiple logistic regression to evaluate the primary outcome, adjusting for the time to return of spontaneous circulation, motor score of the Glasgow Coma Scale, first-recorded cardiac rhythm, pH, and magnesium levels. RESULTS: Of the 86 patients, 58 had unfavorable neurological outcomes. The mean hospital stay was 19 days. Multivariable analysis indicated that magnesium levels were not associated with an unfavorable neurological outcome. In contrast, a time to return of spontaneous circulation greater than 30 minutes and Glasgow Coma Scale motor score of 1 were significantly associated with an unfavorable neurological outcome. DISCUSSION: Magnesium levels were not associated with an unfavorable neurological outcome according to multivariable analysis. We found that a time to return of spontaneous circulation greater than 30 minutes and Glasgow Coma Scale motor score of 1 might predict an unfavorable neurological outcome.

Stomal stenosis during gradual closure of a traumatic abdominal wall hernia.

INTRODUCTION: Traumatic abdominal wall hernias are often accompanied by intra-abdominal injuries, and a stoma may be required. Although rare, stomal stenosis can develop after the repair of a traumatic abdominal wall hernia. PRESENTATION OF CASE: A 65-year-old woman was in a head-on collision with a truck and was brought by ambulance to our facility. The findings of a physical examination and computed tomography scan suggested bowel perforation for which exploratory surgery was performed. The lacerated small bowel and sigmoid colon were resected and an ileostomy and colostomy were created. Abdominal wall reconstruction was impossible because of the large defect size. Repair of the abdominal wall was achieved by gradual closure of the fascia after surgery in combination with negative pressure wound therapy. Stenosis of the ileostomy occurred during this process and was surgically repaired. DISCUSSION: We reconstructed the abdominal wall using negative pressure wound therapy in combination with sutures while minimizing the risk of abdominal compartment syndrome. This approach did not increase the intra-abdominal pressure, but it deformed the abdominal wall, resulting in unexpected stenosis of the ostomy. CONCLUSION: Gradual postoperative closure of a traumatic abdominal wall hernia with an ostomy in place may result in stomal stenosis. Stomal patency must be carefully evaluated during this process.

Optical skill-assist device for ultrasound-guided vascular access: A preliminary simulation study.

Ultrasound-guided central venous catheterization may cause lethal mechanical complications intraoperatively. We developed a novel device to prevent such complications. It works as a needle guide to supplement the operator's skill. We evaluated the utility of this device in terms of the success rate and visualization of the needle tip while penetrating the target vessel using a simulator.This study was approved by the local ethics committee. The new device - an optical skill-assist device - has a slit and a mirror in the center. The operator can see the needle's reflection in the mirror through the slit and can thus ensure that the needle is directed in line with the ultrasound beam. Participants were recruited by placing an advertisement for a hands-on seminar on ultrasound-guided vascular access. They received hands-on training on the in-plane approach for 2 hours. Pre-test and post-test without the device and an additional test using the device were performed to evaluate the proficiency of ultrasound-guided vascular access. An endoscope inserted into the simulated vessel was used to detect the precise location of the needle tip in the vessel.The primary outcomes were the success rate of the procedure. The secondary outcome was visualization of the needle tip while penetrating the simulated vessel. The chi-squared test was used for comparing the success rate and needle tip visualization between the different tests. P < .05 was considered to indicate significant differences.Forty-two participants were enrolled in this study. The success rate did not increase after the simulation training (P = .1). Using the optical skill-assist device, the rate improved to 100%. There was a significant difference in success rate between the pre-test and additional test using the optical skill-assist device (P = .003). Needle tip visualization significantly improved with the use of the optical skill-assist device compared to the pre-test (P < .001) and post-test (P = .001).Simulation training improved participants' skill for ultrasound-guided vascular access, but the improvement depended on each participant. However, further, improvement was achieved with the use of the optical skill-assist device.The optical skill-assist device is useful for supplementing the operator's skill for ultrasound-guided central venous catheterization.

Isolation of three distinct carbapenemase-producing Gram-negative bacteria from a Vietnamese medical tourist.

Carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli, multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium were isolated from a single patient. The patient came to Japan for advanced medical treatment after having undergone laparoscopic cholecystectomy and hospitalization in Vietnam. Whole-genome sequence analysis revealed that K. pneumoniae harbored blaOXA-48 that was found on a Col156 -type small plasmid, E. coli harbored blaNDM-5 and P. aeruginosa harbored both blaNDM-1 and 16S rRNA methyltransferase (rmtB). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of detection of K. pneumoniae harboring blaOXA-48 on a Col156-type small plasmid in the world and P. aeruginosa coharboring genes encoding NDM-1 and RmtB in Japan.

Ultrasound-guided subclavian venipuncture is more rapidly learned than the anatomic landmark technique in simulation training.

PURPOSE: Both ultrasound-guided subclavian venipuncture (US-SV) and landmark-guided subclavian venipuncture (LM-SV) are important in critical care, because the clinical utility of ultrasound guidance is still debated. Education of residents and medical students should include both techniques. The aim of this study is to compare learning these two techniques in a simulation environment. METHODS: This study was approved by the research ethics review committee. Trainees included residents and medical students who were instructed using the "Videos in Clinical Medicine" for LM-SV, or a dedicated slide series for US-SV, using the long-axis in-plane with needle-guide technique. After the lecture, trainees attempted to perform venipuncture in a simulator. All participants performed both techniques. The procedure time from initial skin puncture to detecting back-flow of fluid from the simulated vein was measured. A procedure time over 3 min, arterial puncture, or pneumothorax was counted as a failure. The end-point for each trainee was three successive successful venipunctures without a failure. A trainee who reached the end-point was considered as having acquired adequate skill. Statistical analysis of the procedure time comparing the techniques was done using the Mann-Whitney U test. RESULTS: Twenty trainees participated in this training. Adequate skill to perform US-SV was achieved within three tries, but up to nine attempts were needed for LM-SV. One arterial puncture occurred during LM-SV. No pneumothoraxes occurred during the simulation training. CONCLUSIONS: US-SV was learned more quickly than LM-SV in a simulation model.

[The efficacy of video intubating laryngoscope for novice residents].

BACKGROUND: The visibility and quality of the tracheal intubation may be improved by the video intubating laryngoscope (VIL). However, the efficacy using VIL among novice residents has not been reported. METHODS: Total of 154 cases of tracheal intubation experienced by 5 novice residents in 8 weeks were divided into VIL (X-Lite: Rüsch, Germany) group (n = 59) and ordinary laryngoscope group (OL: n = 95), retrospectively. Number of attempts, success and failure were recorded in both groups. In VIL group, video image of the entire procedure was recorded. Success rates were compared between OL and VIL. In VIL group, elapsed time for intubation and findings during laryngoscopic procedure were examined retrospectively. RESULTS: In the first attempt, the success rate was significantly higher in VIL (83%) than OL (68%). Including secondary attempt, the rate increased to 85% in OL and 97% in VIL, and the difference was also significant. In VIL group, elapsed time for entire intubation was 42 +/- 18 seconds (mean +/- SD). It was significantly decreased in 4, 6 and 7th week compared in the first week. Residents showed different pattern of findings during their laryngoscopic procedure. CONCLUSIONS: The use of VIL improved success rate of tracheal intubation compared with OL. Retrospective analysis of video image revealed their progress and characteristics features in their laryngoscopic procedure. VIL was efficient in the education of the novice residents.