Biofilms are microbial communities that are associated with solid surfaces such as intravascular catheters. Candida species are a major cause of medical device-associated infections. Twenty percent to 70% of all candidemias are associated with this biofilm process. Diagnosis and effective treatment of Candida device-associated infections requires removal of the involved device. The ability to i...

A 71-year-old male patient with liver metastases secondary to rectal carcinoma was scheduled for hemi-hepatectomy. Two months earlier he had undergone subtotal resection of the thyroid gland. Prior to surgery, a triple-lumen catheter and an introducer sheath were introduced into the right internal jugular vein using a landmark technique. No problems occurred during insertion of the triple-lumen...

OBJECTIVES To use the ethanol-lock technique (in conjunction with systemic antibiotics) to salvage central lines from removal and to prevent persistence of catheter-related infections among pediatric patients with long-term intravascular devices. DESIGN Medical records of patients treated with ethanol locks were retrospectively reviewed from June 1, 2004, through June 22, 2005. SETTING Chil...

Drug-eluting stent implantation is an effective treatment for coronary artery disease, yet unexpected serious complications during stent implantation are possible. A 70-year-old man with unstable angina presented with a left main bifurcation lesion. Two drug-eluting stents were successfully deployed at the left main bifurcation lesion by the mini-crush technique under intravascular ultrasound g...

The following description presents a case of a 75-year-old female patient with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome in whom there occurred an infrequent complication of percutaneous coronary angioplasty: uncontrolled intracoronary stent displacement from a balloon catheter. During the attempt to retrieve the device using the "small-balloon" technique, further slippage of the stent f...

Disruption followed by intravasal embolization is a rare (0.5%) however possible complication secondary to the insertion of a central venous catheter. The carriers of these implantable systems are patients who, for their cure and at times even for their survival, require the chronic intravenous infusion of drugs and solutions. Therefore materials that can allow long-term insertion with a minimu...

OBJECTIVES This study attempted to identify the clinical, angiographic, procedural and intravascular ultrasound predictors of directional atherectomy results assessed by intravascular ultrasound. BACKGROUND Several angiographic and intravascular ultrasound variables have been associated with the outcome of directional coronary atherectomy. No study has incorporated both modalities into a pred...

Central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) are common in intensive care units (ICUs) and in the medical patients. In the United States approximately 250.000 cases of bloodstream infections (BSIs) reported annually, associated with increase in longer hospital stay, costs and mortality. Primary bacteremia without local infection elsewhere, Including intravascular catheter sources ac...