"Extended subcutaneous route" technique: a quick subcutaneous tunnelling technique for PICC insertion.

Purpose: To describe a quick tunnelling technique for peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) insertion called the "extended subcutaneous route" technique.

Methods: The "extended subcutaneous route" technique is described step by step.

Results: In 18 consecutive PICCs, inserted with extended route technique in ASST Monza, no complications during insertion were registered.

[The impact of closed system and 7 days intravascular administration set replacement on catheter related infections in a general intensive care unit: a before-after study].

Introduction: The incidence of catheter related Bloodstream infections (BSI) is high in intensive care units (ICU).

Aim: To evaluate the BSI rate in a population of patients admitted to a General ICU before and after the implementation of the 2011 CDC guidelines.

Methods: Retrospective observational study on patients admitted from January 2009 to December 2013.

[Nursing activities score: differences in nursing workload in three intensive care units].

Introduction: The activities that impact on the nursing workload in an intensive care unit have not been described.

Aim: To retrospectively analyze the nursing workload in the three intensive care units-ICU (general, neurosurgery and cardiac surgery) of the same department with the Nursing Activities Score (NAS) to describe the nursing interventions that mostly impact on the workload.

Methods: Retrospective observational study.

[Level of sedation level and modifications of vital signs during hygienic care in patients admitted to an intensive care unit].

Introduction: Hygienic care practices may represent a source of stress for intensive care patients.

Aim: To identify the hygienic care practices more involved in changes of vital signs and the association to the level of sedation.

Methods: Prospective observational study of eleven patients admitted to a general intensive care unit, observed for three consecutive hygiene care morning practices.

[Number of nurses and adverse events: the results of a study].

Unlabelled: Number of nurses and adverse events: the results of a study. Introduction. Adverse events may be related to an higher workload and a lower nurse staffing level compared to patients needs.