title: Time series analysis of use patterns for common invasive technologies in critically ill patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Critically ill patients are frequently managed with invasive technologies as part of their medical care. Little is known about use patterns. We examined use trends for invasive technologies used in critically ill patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using time series analysis and data on 26 989 patients from 3 medical-surgical intensive care units (ICUs) (n = 18 224) and 1 surgical ICU (n = 8765) between January 1, 1999, and January 1, 2007, we measured changes in the proportion of patients receiving the 4 most frequently used invasive technologies used in critically ill patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 4 most common invasive technologies used in critically ill patients during the study period were arterial lines (71%), endotracheal intubations (61%), central venous catheters (51%), and pulmonary artery catheters (18%). The proportion of ICU patients who received pulmonary artery catheters decreased from 25% in 1999 to 8% in 2006 (P < .001). Use of central venous catheters increased from 39% to 46% (P < .001). After adjusting for baseline characteristics, patients admitted in 2006 were 4 times less likely to receive a pulmonary artery catheter (odds ratio, 0.28; 95% confidence interval, 0.24-0.33), but 42% (odds ratio, 1.42; 95% confidence interval, 1.27-1.58) more likely to receive a central venous catheter than patients admitted in 1999. No significant changes were observed for intubations and arterial lines.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of invasive technologies in critically ill patients is changing and may have important implications for resource use, clinician education, and patient care. Initiatives should be considered for ensuring clinician competency during technology transitions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Critical Care Medicine, University of Calgary, Foothills Medical Center, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Luc R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Berthiaume
authors.forename: Adam D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Peets
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: Reza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shahpori
authors.forename: Chip J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Doig
authors.forename: Paul J E
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Boiteau
authors.forename: Henry Thomas
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Stelfox