Is routine changing of peripheral arterial catheters justified?

Although peripheral arterial catheters (pACs) are used extensively, disagreement persists concerning the practice of scheduled replacement to prevent catheter-related infections. Despite recommendations and no proof of benefit, pAC replacement continues to be scheduled as a routine practice in many intensive care units (ICUs) worldwide. Our own experience in an oncology ICU, based on a 217-device database, confirms that the risk for pAC-related infections is stable over time, arguing against scheduled replacement.

[Can children visit their relatives in an adult ICU?].

For the last three years, our oncology ICU (intensive care unit) has been opened to visiting children between 0 and 18 years. Our objective was to attempt to decrease the psychological burden in critically ill cancer patients and their children. We report here the evaluation of this new policy.

[Cost of an intraperitoneal chemohyperthermia (IPCH) related to cytoreductive surgery].

Background: A complete cytoreductive surgery followed with an intraperitoneal chemohyperthermia (IPCH) is a new treatment allowing curing some patients with a peritoneal carcinomatosis. The cost of this treatment, evaluated in different countries, is high. In France, we do not have any cost evaluation of this therapy, and this state slows its diffusion in our country.

Impact of the extent and duration of cytoreductive surgery on postoperative hematological toxicity after intraperitoneal chemohyperthermia for peritoneal carcinomatosis.

Background: Peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC) is a major disease, currently treated using complete cytoreductive surgery and intraperitoneal chemohyperthermia (IPCH). Morbidity is a significant limitation of this procedure, usually related to the extent of surgery, and hematological toxicity, which is considered as dependent upon the chemotherapy dosage alone. The aim of our study was to investigate whether surgery alone had an impact on the hematological toxicity associated with the standardized drug protocol that we routinely prescribed.

Indwelling time and risk of infection of dialysis catheters in critically ill cancer patients.

Objective: Despite the lack of evidence to support routine scheduled replacement of dialysis catheters (DCs) this practice continues to be widely used in many intensive care units (ICUs). This study evaluated whether additional risks of catheter-related infection (CRI) are incurred with a conservative attitude in critically ill cancer patients.

Design And Setting: Prospective, observational study over a 14-month period in a 15-bed medicosurgical unit in a comprehensive cancer center.