Virtual sedation as a substitute to pharmacological sedation during PICC placement in pediatric patients: A feasibility study.

INTRODUCTION: In pediatric patients, PICC insertion is often performed under sedation to reduce pain and anxiety, which is associated with risks such as laryngospasm, apnea, and hypoxia. Furthermore, it requires a pediatric anesthesiologist. The aim of our study was to evaluate the VR as an alternative to pharmacological sedation to reduce those risks and the overall cost. METHODS: We tested a VR immersive experience for ten children requiring a PICC. To achieve this, we ran a software, specifically designed for the pediatric healthcare setting, on a commercially available VR headset.In order to evaluate this new practice, we recorded the following data:Patient's anxiety before and after the procedure, recorded through a modified numeric rating scale from 0 (no anxiety) to 10 (worst anxiety imaginable).Patient's pain before (e.g., because of preexisting medical conditions) and after the procedure through a Wong-Baker scale.Caregiver's satisfaction.No active or passive restraint was enforced during the whole procedure, patients had to keep their arms still all by themselves. RESULT: Out of the 10 patients only in a single case, we had to interrupt the attempt with the VR technique and let the anesthesiologist perform a sedation. From the immediate beginning said patient had trouble adapting to the virtual environment and tried to remove the headset.In all other cases, we noticed a drop in the anxiety level of the patient and the pain never increased. Globally, caregivers were pleased with the experience and reported an average satisfaction rate of 9.3 out of 10. CONCLUSION: Virtual reality seems a valid alternative to traditional sedation in pediatric patients undergoing a PICC placement procedure. Additional studies, with adequate sample size, of patients are necessary to assess the benefit from this new approach, as well as its impact on the overall procedure length.

Retrospective survey from Vascular Access Team Lombardy Net in COVID-19 era

BackgroundVenous Access Devices (VADs) are the most used device in COVID-19 patients. ObjectiveIdentify VADs implanted, catheter related thrombosis (CRT), catheter-related bloodstream infection (CRBSI), and accidental remove of VADs in both COVID-19 positive and COVID-19 free patients. Successive analysis was conducted comparing COVID-19 positive patients with COVID-19 free with inverse probability propensity score weights using simple regression to account for these two confounders (peripheral tip as central/peripheral and hospitalization as no/yes). MethodsThis multicenter, retrospective cohort study was conducted using data from 7 hospitals in Lombardy during the pandemic period from February 21st to May 31st 2020. Results2206 VADs were evaluated, of which 1107 (50.2%) were inserted in COVID-19 patients. In COVID-19 cohort the first choice was Long Peripheral Cannula in 388 patients (35.1%) followed by Midline Catheter in 385 (34.8%). The number of "central tip" VADs inserted in COVID-free inpatients and COVID-19 positive were similar (307vs334). We recorded 42 (1.9%) CRT; 32 (79.2%) were observed in COVID-19 patients. 19 CRBSI were diagnosed; 15 (78.95%) were observed in COVID-19. Accidental removals were the more represented complication with 123 cases, 85 (69.1%) of them were in COVID-19. COVID-19 significantly predicted occurrence of CRT (OR = 2.00(1.85-5.03); P<0.001), CRSB (OR = 3.82(1.82-8.97); P<0.001), and Accidental Removal (OR = 2.39(1.80-3.20); P<0.001) in our propensity score weighted models. ConclusionsCRT, CRBSI, and accidental removal are significantly more frequent in COVID-19 patients. Accidental removals are the principal complication, for this reason use of subcutaneously anchored securement is recommended for shorter period than usual.

Programa piloto de formación combinada en ecografía obstétrica y técnicas ecoguiadas basado en simulación / Simulation based obstetric ultrasonography combined with echoguided (ultrasound) techniques training. Pilot program

Introducción: La simulación es un elemento que ya se utiliza de manera profusa en el entrenamiento de obstetras y ginecólogos. Permite entrenarse en situaciones complejas con seguridad para la paciente. Presentamos un programa piloto con la aplicación de distintas técnicas de simulación al entrenamiento en ecografía obstétrica. Sujetos y métodos: Diseñamos un programa con parte presencial y no presencial destinado a 12 médicos internos residentes de ginecología y obstetricia. La parte no presencial consistió en el acceso a unos documentos en una página web. La parte presencial consistió en tres talleres con una duración total de cuatro horas: taller de ecografía en la semana 20 mediante realidad virtual, taller de técnicas invasivas con simuladores de tareas y taller de habilidades comunicativas en dar malas noticias mediante paciente estandarizado. Se les pasó a los alumnos una encuesta de satisfacción anónima (con escala de 1 a 10) al final del programa. Resultados: El resultado de la experiencia de aprendizaje fue muy satisfactorio, como así lo reflejaron los alumnos en la puntuación media global del curso, que fue de 9,1. Conclusión: En este trabajo mostramos que la simulación en el aprendizaje de la ecografía obstétrica ha sido satisfactoria para los residentes

Introduction: Simulation is an useful tool widely used among obstetrician and gynaecologist, as it allows training in complex situations increasing patient’s safety. We are introducing a brand-new simulation program based on obstetric ultrasound. Subjects and methods: It is designed half face-to-face for 12 gynecology and obstetrics residents. The non presence part of the course was online, with access to several documents at a website. The on-site modality consisted of 3 workshops that lasted 4 hours in total: the 20 th week ultrasound workshop implementing virtual reality, the invasive techniques course using mannequin simulation, and the development of bad news communicative skills with standardized patients workshop. All participants were required to fill an anonymous satisfaction survey (scale 1 to 10) at the end of the programme. Results: The learning experience was very satisfactory and the learners gave their inputs in the feedback survey. The final score was 9.1 over 10. Conclusion: In this paper we show that the use of simulation to learn obstetrical ultrasound was rewarding for the residents

Acupuncture accelerates recovery after general anesthesia: a prospective randomized controlled trial / 中西医结合学报

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Acupuncture anesthesia was created in the 1950's in China and continues to be used there today during most major surgeries. It is widely used in China for such complex operations as brain, heart, and abdominal surgery. It is popular in China because it is economical, practical, and beneficial to the patients. With acupuncture anesthesia there is less bleeding during surgery and there is also quicker post-operative recovery.</p><p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>This randomized prospective study aims at comparing the effect of two acupoints (Yongquan, KI1 and Renzhong, DU26) with sham acupuncture and no acupuncture on the time to recovery of consciousness after general anesthesia by means of the Bispectral Index monitor (BIS).</p><p><b>DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS AND INTERVENTIONS</b>This is a prospective randomized controlled study. We randomly assigned 50 patients to 5 groups during recovery from surgical anesthesia. Four groups had acupuncture on KI1 (group A), DU26 (groups B), both KI1 and DU26 (group C), and sham points (group D), and one had no acupuncture (group E).</p><p><b>MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES</b>Bispectral Index (BIS), time to spontaneous eye opening, time to tracheal extubation, and time to following commands were measured as the main outcome measures.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Time to spontaneous eye opening differed among groups (P=0.002), as well as time to tracheal extubation (P<0.000 1) and time to following commands (P=0.000 6). BIS values differed significantly among groups both 5 and 10 min after the end of anesthesia (P<0.000 1 and P=0.000 4, respectively). BIS values of groups D and E were lower than those of the other groups and those of group C were higher. The same pattern was observed also 15 and 30 min after the end of anesthesia, although the difference among groups was not significant at these time points (P=0.164 and P=0.104, respectively).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Acupuncture on DU26 and KI1 accelerates recovery of consciousness after general anesthesia. Moreover, a possible synergistic effect of DU26 and KI1 is suggested. This issue may play a role in the optimization of operating room management and raise interest about the usefulness of acupuncture on unconsciousness states of different nature.</p>

Early prognosis after severe traumatic brain injury with minor or absent computed tomography scan lesions.

BACKGROUND: To assess the prognostic value of corpus callosum lesions (CCL) and brain stem lesions (BSL) in diffuse axonal injury (DAI) patients. METHODS: From December 1989 to December 2008, 102 consecutive patients with pure DAI were admitted to our neurosurgical intensive care unit. Age, gender, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation score, Glasgow Coma Score (GCS), pupillary light reactivity on admission, brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) 24 hours to 72 hours after trauma and sepsis, shock, adult respiratory distress syndrome, renal failure, neurosurgery, high intracranial pressure during the 6 months posttrauma were studied with multiple logistic regression, and Cox's proportional hazards, respectively, considering the Glasgow Outcome Scale and the time to recovery of consciousness as outcome variables. RESULTS: Four variables predicted unfavorable Glasgow Outcome Scale (likelihood ratio p<0.0001; Area Under the Receiver Operator Curve (AUROC)=0.92; Naglekerke's R=0.64; Goodness-of-Fit p=0.8679): age (5-year odds ratio [OR], 1.44; 95% CI, 1.14-1.82; p=0.002), bilateral absence of light reflexes (OR, 11.11; 95% CI, 2.19-57.67; p=0.004), multiplicity of CCL (OR, 29.23; 95% CI, 7.06-121.01; p<0.001), and multiplicity of BSL (OR, 9.43; 95% CI, 2.44-36.42; p=0.001). Four variables affected time to recovery of consciousness: age (hazard ratio, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.97-0.99; p=0.009), bilateral absence of light reflexes (hazard ratio, 0.51; 95% CI, 0.27-0.97; p=0.041), multiplicity of CCL (hazard ratio, 0.40; 95% CI, 0.25-0.66; p<0.001), and total GCS on admission (hazard ratio, 1.45; 95% CI, 1.23-1.71; p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In DAI patients, bad outcome is predicted by age, bilateral absence of pupillary light reflexes, multiplicity of CCL, and BSL on MRI. Time to recovery of consciousness is predicted by age, bilateral absence of light reflexes, multiplicity of CCL on MRI, and GCS on admission.

Remifentanil vs. meperidine for patient-controlled analgesia during colonoscopy: a randomized double-blind trial.

OBJECTIVES: The aim was to compare patients' and endoscopists' satisfaction in terms of efficacy and safety of remifentanil patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) during colonoscopy with that of a combination of midazolam and meperidine. METHODS: Sixty patients undergoing colonoscopy were randomly assigned to two groups. All of the patients received midazolam 0.03 mg/kg intravenously for premedication. In the remifentanil group, a bolus dose of remifentanil was given, and a patient-controlled sedation analgesia (PCSA) pump was set to inject further bolus doses with no "lockout" time. Patients in the meperidine group received a bolus of meperidine and sham PCSA. Non-invasive arterial blood pressure, electrocardiography, and pulse oximetry were monitored throughout the study. The Observer's Assessment of Alertness and Sedation Scale (OAA/S) was performed at baseline, every 5 min during, and after colonoscopy. Assessment of pain and satisfaction with sedoanalgesia was scheduled after colonoscopy and 24-72 h later by a 100 mm visual analog scale (VAS). The technical difficulty of the examination and the gastroenterologist's satisfaction were assessed similarly. RESULTS: The degree of pain, the level of satisfaction with sedoanalgesia by patients and gastroenterologists, and the degree of difficulty experienced by the endoscopist were not different in the two groups. The time to reach an Aldrete score > or = 9 was significantly shorter in the remifentanil group (P < 0.0001); discharge times did not differ between the groups (P = 0.36). There was no difference between the groups regarding the duration of colonoscopy (P = 0.82) and the stability of vital signs. At the end of the procedure, OAA/S was significantly higher in the remifentanil group (P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Remifentanil PCA is safe and effective to induce sedoanalgesia during colonoscopy. Further studies should address the optimization of dosing and lock out setting.