Article Notes
It’s notable how poor the evidence base is for many drugs for use in children. This is indicative of the lack of studies rather than efficacy, though is always worth remembering. Even from Germany, the Land of Tramadol, this Cochrane review could not unearth significant evidence for using tramadol for pediatric post-operative pain.
Post-operative cognitive problems are a growing worldwide concern, especially with our aging surgical population – but as this Cochrane review points out, we still don’t know the answers to even some simple questions, like ‘Is there a difference between TIVA and volatile anesthesia?’
Continue to watch this space...
Why should you care?
Not only is venous cannulation a common procedure, but so is resultant thrombophlebitis – occurring in up to 75% of patients. This has important morbidity, patient-experience and economic consequences.
What does this study add?
Although many risk factors have been identified (insertion sterility, location, access technique, drug use, micro-particles, etc.), Villa and friends investigated whether in-line filters would reduce phlebitis incidence.
This modest, single-center trial randomized surgical patients between in-line filter (for 96 hours) or standard line, before anesthesia induction. Filter user reduced thrombophlebitis 13-fold at 48 hours, and at 96 hours sustained potency of 50% more of the cannulae.
What sort of filters did they use?
They used an 11 cm2 positively-charged 0.2 µm filter for fluid and most drugs, a 4.5 cm2 1.2 µm filter for propofol infusions, and a positively-charged 1.65 cm2 0.2 µm for opioid infusions.
The filters did slow gravity-fed infusion rates as they aged, however this was not clinically significant when using a peristaltic pump.
The take-home...
We should be better stewards of our patient's IV access. For short-term access <48h focus should be on technique and sterility, but for access needed for 48h or longer, an inline filter offers significant benefit with limited downside.