Biomedical subjects

D R Ball

Publications and source records attributed to D R Ball.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed2004

Securing central venous catheters: a comparison of sutures with staples.

OBJECTIVES: Central venous access permits rapid drug delivery to the central circulation during cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Central venous catheters must be secured in place to prevent accidental removal and sutures are often used for this purpose. Staples may offer advantages over sutures by reducing the time needed to secure the central venous catheter and reducing exposure to contaminated sharps. The purpose of this study was to assess a staple anchoring device (Arrow, Reading, USA) and compare it with sutures for securing central venous catheters. METHODS: Prospective, randomised trial of 20 patients requiring insertion of a central venous catheter during elective surgery. RESULTS: Mean (SD) times were significantly shorter in the staples group than in the sutures group (staples 10.1 (3.5) seconds; sutures 50.5 (9.6) seconds; p<0.0001). However, 3 of 10 central venous catheters in the staples group were accidentally pulled out within the first three days. CONCLUSIONS: The use of staples significantly reduces the time to secure a central venous catheter. However, staples failed to secure the central venous catheters adequately and therefore cannot be recommended instead of sutures.

Catheterization, Central Venous↗

PubMed2003

'Airway Alerts'. How UK anaesthetists organise, document and communicate difficult airway management.

A questionnaire on organisation, documentation and communication of airway problems during anaesthesia was sent to 271 anaesthetic college tutors in the UK. Their responses were compared with three published recommendations. There was a 72% response rate (195/271). The recommendations of the American Society of Anaesthesiologists Task Force on the Management of the Difficult Airway were met by 71% of respondents; 2% met those suggested by the Canadian Airway Focus Group and 2% met those suggested in a standard UK textbook on difficulties in tracheal intubation. Guidelines for management of the difficult airway were available in 142 departments (73%), but only 41 (21%) had guidelines for communication and dissemination of information. We present an 'Airway Alert' scheme which has since been adopted by the Difficult Airway Society.

Communication↗

PubMed2003