Sodium Bicarbonate Versus Sodium Chloride for Preventing Contrast-Associated Acute Kidney Injury in Critically Ill Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objectives: To test whether hydration with bicarbonate rather than isotonic sodium chloride reduces the risk of contrast-associated acute kidney injury in critically ill patients.

Design: Prospective, double-blind, multicenter, randomized controlled study.

Setting: Three French ICUs.

Intravascular Complications of Central Venous Catheterization by Insertion Site.

Background: Three anatomical sites are commonly used to insert central venous catheters, but insertion at each site has the potential for major complications.

Methods: In this multicenter trial, we randomly assigned nontunneled central venous catheterization in patients in the adult intensive care unit (ICU) to the subclavian, jugular, or femoral vein (in a 1:1:1 ratio if all three insertion sites were suitable [three-choice scheme] and in a 1:1 ratio if two sites were suitable [two-choice scheme]). The primary outcome measure was a composite of catheter-related bloodstream infection and symptomatic deep-vein thrombosis.

Accuracy of plasma neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin in the early diagnosis of contrast-induced acute kidney injury in critical illness.

Purpose: Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) is a promising biomarker for acute kidney injury (AKI). We evaluated the diagnostic and prognostic accuracies of plasma NGAL (pNGAL) for contrast-induced AKI (CI-AKI) in critically ill patients.

Methods: In a prospective observational study in two adult intensive care units in a university hospital, 100 consecutive critically ill patients with stable serum creatinine concentrations up to 48 h before contrast medium (CM) injection were enrolled.