Randomised trial of intravaginal misoprostol and intracervical Foley catheter for cervical ripening and induction of labour. Comparison of the modified biophysical profile to a "new" biophysical profile incorporating the middle cerebral artery to umbilical artery velocity flow systolic/diastolic ratio. Induction of labour by balloon catheter with extra-amniotic saline infusion (BCEAS): a randomised comparison with PGE2 vaginal pessaries. Pre-induction cervical ripening: transcervical foley catheter versus intravaginal misoprostol. A randomized trial comparing peripherally inserted central venous catheters and peripheral intravenous catheters in infants with very low birth weight. Randomized controlled trial of vascular access in newborns in the neonatal intensive care unit. Comparison of silver-impregnated with standard multi-lumen central venous catheters in critically ill patients. Comparison of general and regional anesthesia for cesarean section: success rate, blood loss and satisfaction from a randomized trial. A multimodal approach to central venous catheter hub care can decrease catheter-related bloodstream infection.
Induction of labour may be indicated despite an unripe cervix. The purpose of this study was to compare the safety and efficacy of intravaginal misoprostol and an intracervical Foley's balloon catheter for preinduction cervical ripening and labour induction. A total of 120 patients requiring indicated induction of labour with an unfavourable cervix (Bishop's score < or =4) were randomised prospectively to receive either 50 mug intravaginal misoprostol every 6 h for a maximum of two doses, or an intracervical Foley balloon catheter for 12 h followed by an intravenous oxytocin infusion. The two arms of the study were comparable with respect to maternal age, parity, gestational age, indication for induction, and initial Bishop's scores. There were significant change in the Bishop's score in the two groups (5.9 +/- 0.2 and 4.0 +/- 0.2, respectively, p < 0.001) but no inter group differences. Oxytocin induction or augmentation of labour occurred more in the catheter group (95%) than in the misoprostol group (43.3%) (p < 0.0001). Induction to delivery interval was significantly shorter in the misoprostol group than in the catheter group (8.7 +/- 2.4 vs 11.9 +/- 2.7 h p < 0.0001). There was no significant difference noted in the caesarean or other operative delivery rates among patients in the two treatment groups. There was a higher incidence of tachysystole and hyperstimulation in the misoprostol group than in the catheter group (p < 0.03). No differences were observed between groups for meconium passage, 1- or 5-min Apgar scores < 7 and admission into the neonatal intensive care unit. In conclusion, the maternal and perinatal outcomes in this study have shown no difference confirming the efficacy and safety of both methods, however we observe a decrease in the induction-to-delivery interval when misoprostol is used for this purpose. The objective of this study was to determine whether the addition of the middle cerebral to umbilical artery systolic/diastolic velocity waveform ratio to the modified biophysical profile would improve perinatal outcome in patients at high risk.
                A prospective, randomized outcome study of patients referred to the perinatal laboratory for antenatal surveillance was undertaken. Six hundred sixty-five patients were randomized to two antenatal surveillance protocols: group 1, modified biophysical profile; and group 2, modified biophysical profile plus evaluation of the middle cerebral artery to umbilical artery systolic/diastolic ratio. Patients were followed up serially and neonatal outcome data including gestational age at delivery, birth weight, incidence of cesarean section delivery for fetal distress, admission to the neonatal intensive care unit, days in the neonatal intensive care unit, and the presence of significant neonatal morbidity were tabulated.
                The total population showed no statistical difference in outcome parameters between groups 1 and 2. However, a subgroup of patients evaluated for suspected uteroplacental insufficiency did show a significant reduction in caesarean section for fetal distress in group 2 patients.
                In a subgroup of patients at risk for uteroplacental insufficiency, the addition of the middle cerebral/umbilical artery ratio to an antenatal surveillance protocol should be expected to improve perinatal outcome. A new method for induction of labour--balloon catheter with extra-amniotic saline infusion (BCEAS)--is evaluated in randomised comparison with prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in vaginal pessaries.
                One-hundred and nine pregnant women with unfavourable cervices.
                The efficiency of inducing vaginal delivery and the level of 'disadvantages following induction of labour' (DisFIL scorings).
                Overall, BCEAS was less efficient inducing vaginal delivery than vaginal PGE2 (P < 0.01) because of a significant difference among parous women (P < 0.01). In the (larger) primiparous women group, and particularly in the subgroup of these having very low pelvic scores (Lange score, < or = 3), the efficiencies of the two methods were equal (P = 0.06) and P = 0.55, respectively). The levels of DisFIL scorings were not significantly different. However, higher rates of caesarean section followed BCEAS than PGE2 (29% and 10%, respectively; P < 0.05). Serious infectious complications were not recorded following BCEAS. No difference was apparent in the status of the neonates (judging from Apgar scores and umbilical artery pH and SBE). The women, delivering vaginally, commented the two methods equally favourably.
                BCEAS was less efficacious than vaginal PGE2 pessaries, though among primiparous women, especially those with very unfavourable cervices, the difference was not significant. Further refinements of the method are suggested. The object of this study was to compare the effectiveness of the intravaginal Misoprostol and transcervical Foley catheters as pre-induction cervical ripening agents, to estimate the proportion of patients achieving vaginal delivery and to compare the complications of labour and foetal outcome between the two groups. The study was a prospective, randomised study of pregnant women, with singleton pregnancies who presented for antenatal care and delivery at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Nigeria. Ninety-nine patients were invited to participate and ninety-six (96) agreed. No patient withdrew from the study. The patients were assigned by means of computer-generated random numbers to receive transcervical Foley catheters (Size 16F, with 30 ml balloon capacity) or 50 microg intravaginal Misoprostol (Cytotec tablet, Searle & Co., Chicago). Fifty (50) patients received intravaginal Misoprostol and Forty-six (46) received Transcervical Foley catheters. The proportions of nulliparous, primiparous and multiparous patients were 52, 20 and 28% in the misoprostol group and 43.5, 26.1 and 30.4%, respectively, in the Foley catheter group. The time to achieve a favourable cervical status was significantly shorter in the Misoprostol group, with 98.0% of the subjects attaining Bishop score > or = 6 within 6-12 hours of insertion of the study agent, in contrast to 69.0% of the subjects in the Foley catheters group (P<0.001). Thirteen (26.6%) and three (6.5%) patients in the Misoprostol and Foley catheters groups, respectively, went into labour while undergoing cervical ripening and all had uneventful vaginal deliveries (P<0.05). The induction-delivery interval did not differ significantly between the groups. The incidence of caesarean delivery was 6.0% in the Misoprostol group compared with 2.2% in the Foley catheter group (P=0.62). Instrumental vaginal delivery rates were similar in both groups. Overall, the mode of delivery did not differ significantly between the groups. The number of neonates with 1-minute Apgar score <7 did not differ significantly in both groups and no neonate had 5-minute Apgar score <7. Meconium stained liquor was noticed in 5 (Misoprostol) vs 2 (Foley catheters) patients in labour. None of the neonates had any features suggestive of meconium aspiration. Labour complications were mainly precipitate labour {2 (Misoprostol) vs 1 (Foley catheters) } and 1 patient with transient tachysystole (> or =6 contractions in 10 minutes for two consecutive 10-minute periods) in the Misoprostol group. Hyperstimulation was not noticed in any of the patients in either arm of the study groups. Intravaginal Misoprostol is as effective a pre-induction cervical ripening agent as transcervical Foley catheters, with added advantages of shorter duration of cervical ripening, reduced oxytocin requirement for induction of labour and greater acceptability to patients. The incidence of caesarean sections, other labour complications and the foetal outcome were similar with both methods. To determine whether percutaneously inserted central venous catheters (PICC) and peripheral intravenous catheters (PIV) in infants with very low birth weight (VLBW) differ with respect to (1) incidence of sepsis, (2) number of insertion attempts and catheters required for total intravenous therapy, (3) courses of antibiotics, and (4) total duration of intravenous (IV) use.
                A randomized comparative trial was conducted involving 63 VLBW infants (<1,251 g) who required IV therapy. Infants were assigned randomly at 1 week of age to either a PIV or a PICC catheter and followed up prospectively until an IV was no longer required or the infant was transferred out of the neonatal intensive care unit.
                Data were analyzed on an intention-to-treat basis. There was no difference in the incidence of sepsis (P = .64), number of courses of antibiotics (P = .16), or total duration of IV use (P= .34) between the 2 groups. The number of insertion attempts required for total IV therapy was significantly lower in the PICC group than in the PIV group (P = .008). There also was a significantly lower number of total catheters utilized in the PICC group (P = .002). When data were controlled for birth weight strata the results were similar.
                PICC lines reduced the number of painful IV procedures in VLBW infants without additional morbidity. To compare the effectiveness of two methods of vascular access in newborns.
                Randomized controlled trial.
                Neonatal intensive care unit in Regional Hospital of Valdivia, Chile.
                Seventy-four high-risk newborns.
                Peripherally inserted central catheter and peripheral intravenous catheter.
                Length of neonatal intensive care unit stay and incidence of sepsis and phlebitis. RESULTS/DATA ANALYSIS: There were no statistically significant differences in the length of the neonatal intensive care unit stay and in the incidence of sepsis between groups. There was a significant higher incidence of phlebitis in the peripheral intravenous catheter group.
                Although there was not a significant effect of the kind of catheter on length of neonatal intensive care unit stay, the peripherally inserted central catheter is recommended because of the decreased risk of phlebitis and the decreased number of venipuncture attempts and catheters needed to complete intravenous therapy. To evaluate a new silver-impregnated multi-lumen central venous catheter for reducing catheter-related colonization in intensive care patients.
                Multicenter, prospective, randomized, controlled clinical study.
                Ten adult intensive care units (multidisciplinary, medical and surgical, university and nonuniversity hospitals) in eight institutions.
                A total of 577 patients who required 617 multi-lumen central venous catheters between November 2002 and April 2004 were studied.
                Intensive care adult patients requiring multi-lumen central venous catheters expected to remain in place for >or=3 days were randomly assigned to undergo insertion of silver-impregnated catheters (silver group) or standard catheters (standard group). Catheter colonization was defined as the growth of >or=1,000 colony-forming units in culture of the intravascular tip of the catheter by the vortexing method. Diagnosis of catheter-related infection was performed by an independent and blinded expert committee.
                A total of 320 catheters were studied in the silver group and 297 in the standard group. Characteristics of the patients, insertion site, duration of catheterization (median, 11 vs. 10 days), and other risk factors for infection were similar in the two groups. Colonization of the catheter occurred in 47 (14.7%) vs. 36 (12.1%) catheters in the silver and the standard groups (p = .35), for an incidence of 11.2 and 9.4 per 1,000 catheter days, respectively. Catheter-related bloodstream infection was recorded in eight (2.5%) vs. eight (2.7%) catheters in the silver and the standard groups (p = .88), for an incidence of 1.9 and 2.1 per 1,000 catheter days, respectively.
                The use of silver-impregnated multi-lumen catheters in adult intensive care patients is not associated with a lower rate of colonization than the use of standard multi-lumen catheters. A prospective randomized trial was organized to compare the effectiveness of general and regional anesthesia for cesarean section (C/S).
                Three hundred and forty-one patients were randomized into the general anesthesia group (GA), epidural anesthesia group (EA) and spinal anesthesia group (SA). The effectiveness of interest was success rate, blood loss and patient satisfaction.
                We found that the success rates of EA and SA were lower than GA. Success in EA should be improved by using an epidural catheter to add more local anesthetic drug instead of a single shot; and the surgeon should allow more time for the block to work adequately. Success in SA should be improved by using bupivacaine instead of lidocaine. GA resulted in significantly more blood loss, lower postoperative hematocrit, and higher proportion of patients who had postoperative hematocrit < 30 per cent than EA and SA. The patients' satisfaction scores were not different among the 3 techniques. This meant that, given adequate explanation and perioperative care, Thai women were satisfied with regional anesthesia.
                Regional anesthesia is a better choice of anesthesia for C/S than general anesthesia. However, the availability of different techniques and ability to change the technique when needed were very useful and important. If GA is chosen, all safety procedures must be followed. Oxygen supplement and endotracheal intubation facilities must be available in all techniques. Guidelines of anesthesia for C/S at a national level should be agreed upon, including the type of personnel, monitoring equipment and postoperative care. This study was conducted to investigate decreases in catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSIs) through an evidence-based multimodal intervention.
                This was a prospective interventional study of neonates with a central venous catheter (CVC) from a neonatal intensive care unit database, involving implementation of a multimodal approach to central venous catheter hub care using 2% chlorhexidine in 70% isopropyl alcohol and education of medical staff by audiovisual presentations. CRBSI rates in the pre-intervention period and postintervention period were compared.
                A total of 373 patients with a CVC (163 in the preintervention period and 210 in the postintervention period) were studied. Patient demographic and clinical characteristics were similar in the 2 periods. Extremely low birth weight infants constituted 40% of the cohort in the preintervention period and 38% of the cohort in the postintervention period. The CRBSI rate in patients with a umbilical artery catheter and an umbilical vein catheter decreased from 15/1000 catheter-days to 10/1000 catheter-days (odds ratio [OR], 0.47; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.17-0.91). The CRBSI rate in patients with a peripherally inserted central catheter decreased from 23/1000 catheter-days to 10/1000 catheter-days (OR, 0.33; 95% CI, 0.12-0.91). These decreased CRBSI rates were sustained despite high device utilization. The incidence of gram-negative septicemia also decreased. Ten CRBSIs were prevented by this multimodal approach, representing significant health care cost savings.
                This study demonstrates significant decreases in CRBSI rate for all catheter types and birth weight categories associated with the multimodal intervention. Audiovisual education is an effective tool for practice change. Reeducation and compliance monitoring should be part of all nosocomial infection prevention strategies, resulting in significant savings in health care costs.
                Copyright 2010 Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.
On the basis of the evidence available in this review, no specific conclusion can be made regarding the superiority of one catheter class over another. Further adequately powered studies reporting on clinical outcomes (e.g. live birth rate) are required. Additional outcomes such as miscarriage rates and measures of discomfort need to be reported.