Katheria AC, Fleming SE, Kim JH. A randomized controlled trial of ultrasound-guided peripherally inserted central catheters compared with standard radiograph in neonates. Journal of Perinatology. 2013;33(10):791–794. doi:10.1038/jp.2013.58.
What problem(s) did the researchers study and why? The researchers studied if real-time ultrasound (RTUS) guidance could help properly place peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) tips in infants. Researchers also wanted to see if RTUS could help reduce procedural time and/or radiograph usage during PICC placement. PICC insertion is routinely performed on premature infants whom are often in need of nursing care, so reducing PICC procedural time would be beneficial to these often critically ill infants.
Who participated in the study? The study included preterm neonates that need a PICC line placed at the University of California, Sand Diego’s Level III neonatal intensive care unit. Neonates admitted from …show more content…
What were the results of this study? Patients were block randomized and divided into two groups: standard arm and RTUS-guided arm. Ultrasound (US) was used in both arms, but observations were unavailable to PICC practitioners in the standard arm. The standard arm performed PICC insertion accounting to accepted procedure practice. In the RTUS-guided arm, US operators advised practitioners on PICC tip location and suggested maneuvers to achieve optimal tip position. Researchers measured the time from initial catheter insertion until the PICC was in correct position, as well as the number of radiographs performed. PICC position was confirmed using radiographs for both arms since it is the accepted standard practice for PICC insertion. The study concluded that procedural time for PICC line insertion decreased by 40% (P=0.034) with RTUS guidance, resulting in an overall reduction of approximately 30 minutes. The amounts of radiographs administered were also higher in the standard arm
What problem(s) did the researchers study and why? The researchers studied if real-time ultrasound (RTUS) guidance could help properly place peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) tips in infants. Researchers also wanted to see if RTUS could help reduce procedural time and/or radiograph usage during PICC placement. PICC insertion is routinely performed on premature infants whom are often in need of nursing care, so reducing PICC procedural time would be beneficial to these often critically ill infants.
Who participated in the study? The study included preterm neonates that need a PICC line placed at the University of California, Sand Diego’s Level III neonatal intensive care unit. Neonates admitted from …show more content…
What were the results of this study? Patients were block randomized and divided into two groups: standard arm and RTUS-guided arm. Ultrasound (US) was used in both arms, but observations were unavailable to PICC practitioners in the standard arm. The standard arm performed PICC insertion accounting to accepted procedure practice. In the RTUS-guided arm, US operators advised practitioners on PICC tip location and suggested maneuvers to achieve optimal tip position. Researchers measured the time from initial catheter insertion until the PICC was in correct position, as well as the number of radiographs performed. PICC position was confirmed using radiographs for both arms since it is the accepted standard practice for PICC insertion. The study concluded that procedural time for PICC line insertion decreased by 40% (P=0.034) with RTUS guidance, resulting in an overall reduction of approximately 30 minutes. The amounts of radiographs administered were also higher in the standard arm