OBJECTIVE To determine the risk factors and clinical impact of central line infections in critically ill surgical patients. DESIGN Retrospective study. SETTING The surgical intensive care unit of a large tertiary care university hospital. PATIENTS A total of 232 consecutive central line catheters sent for culture from patients in a surgical intensive care unit during 1996 and 1997. Cathet...

The patient, a 27-year-old woman (height, 168 cm; weight, 51.4 kg), had an insignificant medical history with no recent trauma or illness, and she was not taking any medication. Laboratory values revealed that platelet counts, prothrombin time, and activated partial thromboplastin time were normal. No visible signs of coagulopathy were present. She was scheduled for a vaginal radical trachelect...

Coding CPT 0338T Transcatheter renal sympathetic denervation, percutaneous approach including arterial puncture, selective catheter placement(s) renal artery(ies), fluoroscopy, contrast injection(s), intraprocedural roadmapping and radiological supervision and interpretation, including pressure gradient measurements, flush aortogram and diagnostic renal angiography when performed; unilateral 03...

Continuous brachial plexus nerve block catheters are commonly inserted for postoperative analgesia after upper extremity surgery. Modifications of the insertion technique have been described to improve the safety of placing an infraclavicular brachial plexus catheter. Rarely, these catheters may become damaged or entrapped, complicating their removal. We describe a case of infraclavicular brach...