Background. One of the complications associated with central venous catheter (CVC) placement is catheter related deep vein thrombosis (CR-DVT). However a literature search revealed little evidence of this recognised complication. The primary aim of this study was to establish the incidence rate and risk factors for the development of CR-DVT in our critically ill adult patients. Methods. All critically ill adult patients admitted to the medical-surgical ICU with CVC inserted were included in this observational prospective study. After catheter removal we performed duplex ultrasound examination to assess the patency of the vein and establish if CR-DVT was present. Results. A total number of 308 catheters met the inclusion criteria of which 198 were included in the statistical analysis. The CVC was inserted into a subclavian vein (SCV) in 139 (70%) cases and in an internal jugular vein (IJV) in 59 (30%) cases. The 28-day mortality rate was 14.1%. We found CR-DVT during duplex ultrasound examination in 47 (26%) of all cases. 33 (70%) of the CR-DVT were diagnosed in the IJV and 14 (30%) in the SCV. The risk factors for the development of CR-DVT we identified included cannulation of the IJV and the use of treatment dose of LMWH. The effect of CR-DVT on 28-day mortality was not statistically significant. Conclusion. The risk factors for CR-DVT we identified were IJV as a site for CVC cannulation and the use of therapeutic anticoagulation prior to cannulation. Our recommendation would be preferential cannulation of a subclavian vein as opposed to an internal jugular vein in order to reduce the risk of CR-DVT.

Loss of muscle mass occurs rapidly during critical illness and negatively affects quality of life. The incidence of clinically significant muscle wasting in critically ill patients is unclear. This study aimed to assess the incidence of and identify predictors for clinically significant loss of muscle mass in this patient population. This was a single-center observational study. We used ultrasound to determine the rectus femoris cross-sectional area (RFcsa) on the first and seventh day of ICU stay. The primary outcome was the incidence of significant muscle wasting. We used a logistic regression model to determine significant predictors for muscle wasting. Ultrasound measurements were completed in 104 patients. Sixty-two of these patients (59.6%) showed ≥ 10% decreases in RFcsa. We did not identify any predictor for significant muscle wasting, however, age was of borderline significance (p = 0.0528). The 28-day mortality rate was higher in patients with significant wasting, but this difference was not statistically significant (30.6% versus 16.7%; p = 0.165). Clinically significant muscle wasting was frequent in our cohort of patients. Patient age was identified as a predictor of borderline significance for muscle wasting. The results could be used to plan future studies on this topic.Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03865095, date of registration: 06/03/2019.

Background Enteral nutrition is part of the treatment of critically ill patients. Administration of enteral nutrition may be associated with signs of intolerance, such as high gastric residual volumes, diarrhea, and vomiting. Clinical trials regarding the effects of the mode of administration of enteral nutrition on the occurrence of these complications have yielded conflicting results. This trial aims to investigate whether the mode of administration of enteral nutrition affects the time to reach nutritional targets, intolerance, and complications. Methods COINN is a randomized, monocentric study for critically ill adult patients receiving enteral nutrition. Patients will be randomly assigned to two groups receiving (1) continuous or (2) intermittent administration of enteral nutrition. Enhancement of enteral nutrition will depend on signs of tolerance, mainly the gastric residual volume. The primary outcome will be the time to reach the energetic target. Secondary outcomes will be the time to reach the protein target, tolerance, complications, hospital and ICU lengths of stay, and 28-day mortality. Discussion This trial aims to evaluate whether the mode of application of enteral nutrition affects the time to reach nutritional targets, signs of intolerance, and complications. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03573453. Registered on 29 June 2018

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