Percutaneous central venous catheters in neonates.
Fifty-six percutaneous central venous catheters were inserted over a six-month period in 41 term and preterm infants who required long-term venous access. The mean birth weight and gestational age for the study population was 1,281 g and 30.5 weeks, respectively. A cross-case analysis of data revealed information concerning duration of percutaneous central venous catheter therapy, weight gain or loss during therapy, and incidence of catheter-related complications. No complications were observed in 52% of the subjects; the remaining 48% of infants experienced problems with clotting, leaking fluids, and peripheral edema. There was one positive blood culture. As the insertion procedure and nursing management plan became standardized with experience over time, the incidence of complications sharply decreased. The use of percutaneous central venous catheter therapy in neonatal care promises to be a cost-effective nursing technique that will be advantageous for care providers, sick infants, and their parents.
D001724:Birth Weight; D001835:Body Weight; D002404:Catheterization / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D012306:Risk; D014680:Veins