Spinal cord injury in newborns from use of umbilical artery catheters: report of two cases and a review of the literature.
Umbilical artery catheter use in sick newborns has been associated with infarction of major organs such as the intestine and kidneys; spinal cord infarction has also been reported but is rare. We report two cases of spinal cord infarction and review the six others in the literature for preventable or predisposing conditions. Infusion of blood and hypertonic solutions, shock, and high position of the catheter tip were associated with infarction of the anterior spinal cord in these infants.
Brown
M S
MS
Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver.
Phibbs
R H
RH
D002302:Cardiac Output; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D006982:Hypertonic Solutions; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007238:Infarction / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D010264:Paraplegia / Q000209:etiology; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000098:blood supply*; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D065227:Transfusion Reaction; D014469:Umbilical Arteries
D006982:Hypertonic Solutions