19 Clinical Trials for Various Conditions
The study is based on the premise that ultrasound is not commonly used in an ambulance. There are some departments that do deploy it into the field, but of those departments there is almost no data collected about its use. Currently Paramedics are not recognized by insurance companies as health care providers capable of performing ultrasound. If there were more data on the subject that may eventually change. We are hoping to prove that not only is ultrasound useful in an ambulance, but that paramedics are good at interpreting the results. We will save images, the paramedic's diagnosis and some basic information about the call. We will not save any protected health information (PHI) or any information linking the subject to the study. The data collected will be sent to a non-biased ultrasound reviewer to grade the images for the accuracy of diagnosis and the quality of the view obtained. This data will be used to formulate a report and statistics on paramedic's ability to perform ultrasound in the field.
This comparative treatment study aims to challenge a current clinical practice. Specifically, whether the use of ultrasound-guided peripheral intravenous catheter insertion results in lower post insertion failure rates with longer utility time compared to peripheral intravenous catheters (PIVC) inserted in the standard manner during the emergency department (ED), observation and in-patient stay. There are two secondary aims to the study: a) determining if ultrasound-guided peripheral intravenous catheter insertion results in lower post removal complication rates compared to PIVCs inserted in the standard manner; and b) determining if catheter-to-vein ratio can predict post insertion success of PIVCs and what catheter-to-vein ratio is most successful. In this study, catheter-to-vein ratio is defined as the diameter of the lumen of the vein divided by the outside diameter of the catheter.
Central venous catheter placement is a common procedure in the intensive care unit and is a required skill for all residents working in the critical care setting. Central venous catheters (CVC) are placed for a variety of reasons including administration of caustic medications, administration of fluids or blood products for rapid resuscitation, access for hemodynamic monitoring or transvenous pacing, temporary vascular access for dialysis, or inability to obtain peripheral IV access. CVC's are routinely placed in the internal jugular vein in the Vanderbilt medical ICU and ultrasound guidance is used. Placement of the CVC on the right IJ instead of the left IJ is commonly preferred due to the more direct path to the superior vena cava. However, placement in the left IJ may be necessary for a variety of reasons. The investigators intend to compare the standard practice of residents and nurse practitioners placing IJ CVCs in the medical ICU against mandatory screening of the right and left IJ prior to selection of the CVC placement site. The investigators will accomplish this by assessing the relative first pass stick and overall success rates, the rate of aborted procedures, and the rate of complications between standard practice and mandatory screening of bilateral internal jugular veins prior to CVC site selection.
The purpose of this study is to determine if emergency room physicians can use bedside ultrasound to quickly determine the proper placement of a central venous catheter and to evaluate for complications such as a punctured lung.
Inadvertent puncture of an unintended object in a vascular access procedure is common and can lead to serious consequences. Inadvertent common carotid artery (CCA) puncture while targeting the internal jugular vein (IJV), for example, is reported to have an incidence of 2% - 8% and usually results in localized hematoma formation. The hematoma may enlarge rapidly if the patient is coagulopathic, or if a large puncture wound is produced by the introduction of the sheath itself into the CCA. Airway obstruction, pseudoaneurysm, arterio-venous fistula formation and retrograde aortic dissection have all been reported as a consequence of CCA puncture. In the presence of occlusive (atheromatous) carotid disease, inadvertent puncture may carry the risk of precipitating a cerebrovascular accident. In this study, we aim to collect color Doppler and B-mode ultrasound videos from the most common ultrasound-guided vascular access sites - internal jugular vein, subclavian vein, femoral vein, basilic vein, and brachial vein. The videos will also include structures in close proximity to the intended veins. Using such database, we will run various vessel tracking and identification algorithms to evaluate their performance. Our ultimate goal is to develop an algorithm that will aid the ultrasound operator in identifying structures and differentiating between arteries and veins.
The investigators have developed a new device for guiding invasive procedures with ultrasound (US), which they call the sonic flashlight (SF). They attach a half-silvered mirror and a small flat-panel monitor directly to an ultrasound transducer to project a virtual image of the US scan into its actual location within the patient. This permits the operator to guide a needle through the skin by aiming directly at the image, using natural hand-eye coordination rather than looking away from the patient at a conventional display. The device requires no tracking or head-mounted apparatus, and provides an intuitive merger of the visual exterior of the patient with an in situ ultrasound image, which can be simultaneously viewed by others assisting the operator. The investigators believe the SF will increase the accuracy, safety, and speed for a wide variety of invasive procedures, and will require less extensive training than conventional US displays. Given the wide variety of procedures for which the SF could be used, the investigators have narrowed their focus to applying it to a single application: vascular access. They have demonstrated clinically that the SF can be used successfully to guide the placement of the peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) lines. The research proposed here will expand this application to include the insertion of other central venous access (CVA) lines through the internal jugular vein, subclavian vein, and femoral vein. The historical approach to CVA line placements has involved the physical exam and identification of visible landmarks. With the introduction and common usage of ultrasound, it has become routine to use ultrasound guidance. Much of the difficulty in learning conventional ultrasound (CUS) guided procedures stems from the displaced sense of hand-eye coordination that occurs when the operator looks away from the operating field to see the ultrasound display. The SF directly addresses many of these issues and therefore the investigators believe that it is well suited for this application. They have already shown that novice US users learn vascular access procedures in training phantoms more quickly using the SF than CUS. They have also shown that intravenous (IV) team nurses already proficient in CUS guided PICC lines perform vascular access in training phantoms more quickly using the SF than CUS guidance. Finally, as mentioned earlier, the investigators have shown that the SF can be used successfully to guide the placement of PICC lines. This study will test the hypothesis that the SF will successfully facilitate catheter placement in the subclavian, femoral, and internal jugular veins demonstrating equal vasculature visualization as conventional ultrasound.
Umbilical venous catheters (UVC) are typically places with poor guidance and some radiological confirmation. Misplacement of the catheter could lead to its placement in other unintended anatomical areas such as the liver or the spleen, which could be detrimental in critically-ill infants. Our study aims at using a more non-invasive means of placing and continuously monitoring catheter placement using superficial electrocardiogram (ECG) tracings.
Background: - Currently, heart catheterization procedures are guided by X-rays. Researchers are developing new techniques to perform heart catheterization without the use of X-rays by investigating possible uses of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. To study these uses, researchers are interested in performing a part of the standard X-ray catheterization procedure using MRI on individuals who are scheduled to have heart catheterization. Objectives: - To examine the safety and feasibility of right-heart catheterization using MRI-guided catheters. Eligibility: - Individuals at least 21 years of age who are undergoing a medically necessary heart catheterization procedure. Design: * The research MRI procedure will be performed either before or after standard X-ray guided heart catheterization. * Participants will be transferred from an X-ray table onto an MRI table and advanced into the scanner. Under MRI guidance, a MRI-compatible catheter will be used to measure blood pressure and blood oxygen levels in the heart, and MRI scanning will be performed for approximately 30 minutes.
Background: Heparin is an anticoagulant commonly used in the neonatal population as a means to prevent catheter related occlusion and malfunction by thrombosis (clot). Given the recent overdoses of infants using heparin, there is concern as to whether heparin should be used in peripherally inserted central venous catheters (PICC). Scientific evidence comparing the duration of use of heparin versus no heparin in PICCs is conflicting. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of continuous IV fluids with heparin versus IV fluids without heparin on the duration of percutaneously inserted central venous catheters (PICC) in neonates. Design: Prospective, double-blind, randomized controlled trial Hypothesis: The use of heparin in PICC fluids has no difference on duration of catheter patency. Design and Methods: The study will be conducted at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at University Hospital, San Antonio, TX. Randomization to either the experimental group (no-heparin) or the standard medical group (with heparin) will occur once parental consent is obtained and prior to PICC insertion. PICC placement will be done by the PICC certified neonatal nurses. Correct placement of the PICC will be assured by radiography which is standard procedure. Parents, NICU team members and staff, and investigators will be masked to the grouping. Pharmacy will be responsible for randomization. Both the heparin group and the no heparin group solutions will be dispensed in identical containers, compounded by the pharmacy. The study medication, heparin, will be mixed by the pharmacy at a standard dose of 0.5 units/mL for the intravenous infusions used in the heparin group. The experimental group will receive only the base solution, whether it is 5% dextrose, 0.9% sodium chloride, or total parenteral nutrition infused into the PICC line. Pharmacy and the NICU staff will ensure compatibility of heparin with other infusions. Heparin bonded catheters, heparin flushes, and hep-lock solutions are not used by the NICU service. The primary outcome, duration of catheter use, is defined as the time (in hours) between insertion and removal of the catheter due to occlusion. Occlusion will be defined as the inability to push 1 mL of 0.9% sodium chloride, via a 5 mL syringe, through the catheter in situ or detection of clots along the catheter after removal. Secondary outcomes include septicemia vs. catheter-related septicemia, phlebitis, death before discharge, and thrombosis. Septicemia is identified as clinical signs and symptoms associated with sepsis in the presence of a positive peripheral blood culture obtained irrespective of the catheter tip culture result. Catheter-related sepsis will be defined as positive blood culture obtained from the catheter fluid as well as a positive blood culture obtained from a peripheral venous specimen. Both cultures must demonstrate the same organism. Phlebitis is defined by visual detection, swelling, and change of skin color associated with an inflamed vein. Thrombosis is defined as a thrombus along catheter path diagnosed by visual inspection upon removal of the catheter. Elective versus non-elective removal will also be recorded. Adverse events monitored include: heparin induced thrombocytopenia (HIT), defined as a platelet count dropping below 50 x 103/mL with a positive antibody titer, aPTT \> 100 seconds (This will be measured upon clinical evidence of bleeding), hemorrhage from \> 2 sites, intraventricular hemorrhage, extravasation, and dislodgement or breakage of catheter. The sample size will be determined based on retrospective data collection to reach a statistical power of 80% with a type I error or 0.05. The investigators expect the sample size to be approximately 102 patients in each arm of the study. The study will terminate once the PICC is discontinued or if there is an indication to stop the study early for safety reasons. These could include increased adverse events in one group versus the other. A Safety Control Panel composed of 2 neonatologists from another site will review the data at the points when 1/3 and then 2/3 of total patient enrollment has been achieved. Data Collection and Analysis: Data will be collected and tabulated on a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet using unique patient identifiers and stored at a secure location at UHS then analyzed using appropriate statistical tests.
Suture-mediated closure devices are effective and safe for achieving rapid hemostasis in femoral venous access site and reducing the incidence of complications associated with traditional closure methods. Furthermore, there are predictive factors(such as sheath size, obesity, procedure duration, and anticoagulation status)that we can use to assess the procedure's likelihood of success in various patients.
Hypothesis to be tested: placement of a central venous catheter will induce a systemic hypercoagulable state. To determine this, the investigators will measure thromboelastography (TEG), PT(prothrombin time), PTT (partial thromboplastin time), Prothrombin Fragment 1.2, Factor VIII, and VonWillebrand's Factor. In addition, duplex ultrasound will be performed to correlate the laboratory coagulation values with functional changes (i.e. deep venous thrombosis).
Peripheral intravenous cannulation (PIVC) is one of the most common interventions in medical practice. Venous dilatation is helpful for successful PIV placement. Several techniques include hot pack application, tourniquet, massaging, and tapping over the vein to increase vein caliber described in the literature. However, none of them has been rigorously studied. Therefore, there is still no 'best practice' on how to effect vein dilation in a standard way. This study aims to investigate the effect of standardized tapping on venous dilatation with a massage device compared to manual non-standardized tapping and define a standard tapping technique using a device. In this study, the investigators also aim to investigate the effect of tourniquet application with and without vein tapping effect on peripheral vein caliber as determined by ultrasound measurement.
This is a prospective, single center study which applies a standardized, comprehensive catheterization assessment to patients with a known or suspected diagnosis of pulmonary vein stenosis (PVS) who are undergoing a cardiac catheterization at Boston Children's Hospital. As part of the assessment, each pulmonary vein will undergo angiography (pictures using moving x-rays and contrast dye), intravascular ultrasound (IVUS; pictures of the vein wall using a catheter inside the vein), pressure assessment and compliance testing. The status of each pulmonary vein will then be assessed 12 months after the catheterization (i.e. no disease, severe disease, etc.). Using statistics, the investigators will determine which patient and vein characteristics (obtained at the of catheterization) can predict whether or not a pulmonary vein will have disease. The investigators hypothesize that this comprehensive, standardized, invasive assessment of pediatric intraluminal PVS can predict vein outcome.
The objective of this project is to define the effectiveness and therefore the role of NIR vein finders in adult patients with difficult peripheral venous access. The specific objective of the proposed randomized controlled trial is to test the clinical success rate of placing peripheral venous catheters in 'difficult' access patients using traditional peripheral venous catheter placement compared to two established methods utilizing NIR vein imaging. The investigators hypothesize that the capability to successfully place lasting peripheral venous catheters is increased with the adjunct of the imaging technology, reducing the number of failed needle sticks, reducing the number of peripheral venous catheters placed throughout a patient's hospital stay, and reducing the need for more invasive catheters such as PICC lines.
In patients admitted to a coronary care unit, what is the correlation coefficient and limits of agreement for paired measurements of peripheral venous pressure and central venous pressure at multiple time points during the patient's hospitalization?
It has been estimated that 90% of bloodstream infections associated with catheters, are due to CVCs, and that 500 to 4,000 patients in the United States die annually due to these bloodstream infections. The risk of central line associated bloodstream infections is typically expressed as the number of line infections per 1000 catheter days. This study's goal is to develop a uniform CL protocol, updated practice guidelines based on current evidence, and a standard procedural checklist based on CL care bundles recommended by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement. A secondary goal is to create a CL registry to capture and store data relevant to each CL placed throughout the institution. This registry will provide a wealth of data on CL insertions and complications that may be used as a valuable source of information for quality assurance, performance improvement, and research. With the knowledge and information obtained through this registry, educational offerings can be created, and a standardized institutional process for CL insertion can be developed.
The purpose of this study is to learn how the use of ultrasound helps with the placement of an intravenous (i.v.) catheter in young children.
The study aims to standardize patient positioning during bedside ultrasound assessment of internal jugular vein (IJV) and correlate the results with invasive hemodynamics obtained immediately after. The study hypothesizes that the respiratory variation in the size of IJV, as estimated through ultrasound at bedside, is an accurate estimation of the patient's actual right atrial pressure estimated through right heart catheterization.
This is an observational study to evaluate the agreement between the InCardia diagnostic technology CorWatch for the assessment of venous pressure in human subjects. This includes evaluation of InCardia technology in heart failure (HF) patients undergoing invasive right heart catheterization in a cardiac catheterization laboratory (cath lab) and in a cardiac intensive care unit (ICU).