Residents learning ultrasound-guided catheterization are not sufficiently skilled to use landmarks.

Introduction: Ultrasound-guided (UG) technique is the recommended procedure for central venous catheterization (CVC). However, as ultrasound may not be available in emergency situations, guidelines also propose that physicians remain skilled in landmark (LM) placement. We conducted this prospective observational study to determine the learning curve of the LM technique in residents only learning the UG technique.

Ultrasound-guided central venous cannulation is superior to quick-look ultrasound and landmark methods among inexperienced operators: a prospective randomized study.

Objective: Quick-look ultrasound with a skin mark (UM) has been frequently used for central vein cannulation. The aim of this study is to compare this method with landmark (LM) and ultrasound-guided (UG) cannulation of jugular and femoral veins by inexperienced operators.

Design: Prospective randomized single-center study.

Sarcoidosis and the kidney: not only the granulomatous interstitial nephritis.

Renal involvement in sarcoidosis displays a wide range of manifestations, and kidney dysfunction may involve all three mechanisms of renal failure. We report a new case of systemic sarcoidosis presenting as a severe renal failure due to hypercalcemia, sarcoidosis-related bilateral nephrolithiasis and granulomatous interstitial nephritis. A prostate adenocarcinoma was also diagnosed, but has to be regarded as an unrelated disease.

Retroperitoneal hematoma compressing a single functioning kidney: an unusual cause of obstructive renal failure.

We report a case of a retroperitoneal hematoma occurring in a patient under anticoagulation therapy for deep-venous thrombosis and presenting as an anuric acute renal failure. A coexisting polycythemia vera led to misdiagnosis that could have been life-threatening. A woman, known for polycythemia vera and a single functioning right kidney, was admitted with mild abdominal pain in a context of recent deep venous thrombosis under low-molecular weight heparin.

Hypertension in the intensive care unit.

Purpose Of Review: The severity of hypertensive crises is determined by the presence of target organ damage rather than the level of blood pressure. Hypertensive urgencies with no signs of organ dysfunction can therefore be distinguished from hypertensive emergencies in which the presence of severe end-organ damage requires prompt therapy. Hypertensive emergencies include acute aortic dissection, hypertensive encephalopathy, acute myocardial ischaemia, severe pulmonary oedema, eclampsia, and acute renal failure.