Acute and Critical Care

Original Article

Nursing
Minimizing discard volume to 2 ml before blood sampling from a central venous catheter: a prospective observational study in India: Abinaya Pushparaj, Lakshmi Ramamoorthy, Manu Ayyan S, Rajeswari Murugesan, Hmar Thiak Lalthanthuami; Acute Crit Care. 2026;41(1):174-182. Published online February 9, 2026; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4266/acc.000792

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Abstract PDF: Background
Central venous catheters (CVCs) are essential for the treatment of critically ill patients. The practice of discarding varying volumes of blood before sampling from CVCs is widely adopted globally. However, there is no established consensus regarding the appropriate volume of blood to discard before sampling. Therefore, this study aims to compare serum electrolyte levels and hemogram measurements obtained via direct venous puncture with those derived from the proximal lumen of the CVC using a discard volume of 2 ml. Methods: Using a prospective observational study design, 105 patients from intensive care units of a tertiary care center were selected through a convenience sampling method. The parameters analyzed included serum electrolytes (sodium, potassium, and calcium) and complete blood counts (hemograms). Intraclass correlation and Bland-Altman plot analysis were employed to assess agreement between the two sampling methods. Results: The study showed high agreement between the two methods, with a P-value of <0.001, except for white blood cell. The presence of acidosis as a clinical confounder was the primary reason for the differences in agreement for potassium (P=0.018), hematocrit (P=0.006), mean corpuscular volume (P=0.041), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (P=0.034), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (P=0.031), neutrophil (P=0.045), and eosinophil (P=0.553). Conclusions: This study suggests that discarding 2 ml of blood, rather than 3 ml or more, before routine sampling from CVCs is sufficient and may help to reduce iatrogenic blood loss in critically ill patients.

Case Reports

Cardiology/Pediatric
Suspected Pulmonary Embolism during Hickman Catheterization in a Child: What Else Should Be Considered besides Pulmonary Embolism?: Haemi Lee, Jonghyun Baek, Sangyoung Park, Daelim Jee; Korean J Crit Care Med. 2016;31(1):63-67. Published online February 29, 2016; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4266/kjccm.2016.31.1.63

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Abstract PDF: A 16-month-old girl with acute lymphoblastic leukemia expired during Hickman catheter insertion. She had undergone chemoport insertion of the left subclavian vein six months earlier and received five cycles of chemotherapy. Due to malfunction of the chemoport and the consideration of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, insertion of a Hickmann catheter on the right side and removal of the malfunctioning chemoport were planned under general anesthesia. The surgery was uneventful during catheter insertion, but the patient experienced the sudden onset of pulseless electrical activity just after saline was flushed through the newly inserted catheter. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation was commenced aggressively, but the patient was refractory. Migration of a thrombus generated by the previous central catheter to the pulmonary circulation was suspected, resulting in a pulmonary embolism.

Air Embolism in the Left Ventricle after the Removal of a Central Venous Catheter: Duk Song Cho, Moo Hyun Kim, Dong Hyun Lee, Hye Won Lee, Eun Bin Kim, Seok Hyun Kim, Hyo Jin Jung, Soo Jin Kim, Hyun Jeong Kim; Korean J Crit Care Med. 2013;28(4):318-322.; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4266/kjccm.2013.28.4.318

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Abstract PDF

Air embolism is a rare, potentially critical complication that can induce death. Central venous catheterization, which is commonly used for critically ill patients, is a possible cause of air embolism. We experienced a severe air embolism with abnormal air in left ventricle after CVC removal in a patient who was treated for eosinophilic pneumonia. Although the neurologic symptoms were severe, the patient was successfully treated with immediate hyperbaric oxygen therapy and the neurologic deficit was minimal.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Lethal coronary air embolism caused by the removal of a double-lumen hemodialysis catheter: a case report
Sung Ha Mun, Dong Ai An, Hyun Jung Choi, Tae Hee Kim, Jung Woo Pin, Dong Chan Ko
Korean Journal of Anesthesiology.2016; 69(3): 296. CrossRef

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