Assessing the utility of ultrasound-guided vascular access placement with longer catheters in critically ill pediatric patients.

Background: Critically ill pediatric patients can have difficulty with establishing and maintaining stable vascular access. A long-dwelling peripheral intravenous catheter placement decreases the need for additional vascular interventions.

Aim: The study sought to compare longevity, catheter-associated complications, and the need for additional vascular interventions when using ultrasound-guided longer peripheral intravenous catheters comparing to a traditional approach using standard-sized peripheral intravenous catheters in pediatric critically ill patients with difficult vascular access.

Dead space ratio as a tool in nitric oxide weaning: a study in pulmonary hypertensive disease.

Objectives: To describe the association between successful weaning of inhaled nitric oxide and trends in dead space ratio during such weans in patients empirically initiated on nitric oxide therapy out of concern of pulmonary hypertensive crisis.

Patients: Children in a cardiac intensive care unit initiated on inhaled nitric oxide out of clinical concern for pulmonary hypertensive crisis retrospectively over 2 years.

Measurements And Main Results: Twenty-seven patients were included, and nitric oxide was successfully discontinued in 23/27.

Fermentation characteristics and aerobic stability of wet corn distillers grains with solubles ensiled in combination with whole plant corn.

Background: Wet corn distillers grains with solubles (WDG) are prone to aerobic spoilage when stored for an extended period of time. The objective of this study was to evaluate the fermentation characteristics of ensiling WDG with whole plant corn (WPC) using the following combinations: (1) 100% WPC; (2) 75% WPC + 25% WDG; (3) 50% WPC + 50% WDG; and (4) 100% WDG.

Results: The initial pH was greatest for 100% WPC and lowest for 100% WDG (5.