[Pulmonary artery catheterization in the intensive care unit: at what time?].
OBJECTIVE
Recording the time at which the insertion of a pulmonary artery catheter was decided.


METHODS
Prospective and descriptive study.


METHODS
Critically ill patients in an university hospital.


METHODS
The times at which the insertion of a PAC was decided were recorded. For each pulmonary artery catheterization, immediate complications were recorded (arterial puncture, pneumothorax, ventricular arrhythmia, hard and failed pulmonary artery catheterization).


RESULTS
One hundred and forty-nine patients were included (99 males, age = 63 +/- 15 year, body mass index = 25 +/- 6 kg.m-2, median Apache II score = 16). One hundred and sixty-five PAC insertions were decided (16 patients requiring two PACs). Nine arterial punctures, two pneumothoraces, 42 ventricular arrhythmias, 32 hard and eight failed pulmonary artery catheterizations occurred. Thirty-four PAC insertions were decided between 9 and 10 am whereas = 3 PAC insertions per hour were decided between 1 and 9 am.


CONCLUSIONS
The rate of decision of PAC insertion are decreased during the second half of the night (1 to 9 AM).
Lefrant
J Y
JY
Fédération d'anesthésie-douleur-urgence-réanimation, CHU Nîmes, 5, rue Hoche, 30029 Nîmes, France. jean.yves.lefrant@chu-nimes.fr
Ripart
J
J
de La Coussaye
J E
JE
Muller
L
L
Vialles
N
N
Fabbro-Peray
P
P
Saïssi
G
G
Eledjam
J J
JJ
D018806:APACHE; D000368:Aged; D002406:Catheterization, Peripheral / Q000009:adverse effects; D003422:Critical Care / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011651:Pulmonary Artery; D013997:Time Factors