Variation of arterial and central venous catheter use in United States intensive care units.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Arterial catheters (ACs) and central venous catheters (CVCs) are common in intensive care units (ICUs). Few data describe which patients receive these devices and whether variability in practice exists.

Methods

The authors conducted an observational cohort study on adult patients admitted to ICU during 2001-2008 by using Project IMPACT to determine whether AC and CVC use is consistent across U.S. ICUs. The authors examined trends over time and patients more (mechanically ventilated or on vasopressors) or less (predicted risk of hospital mortality ≤2%) likely to receive either catheter.

Results

Our cohort included 334,123 patients across 122 hospitals and 168 ICUs. Unadjusted AC usage rates remained constant (36.9% [2001] vs. 36.4% [2008]; P = 0.212), wherea

SUBMITTER: Gershengorn HB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4145875 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature