Acute abdomen due to late retroperitoneal extravasation from a femoral venous catheter in a newborn.
BACKGROUND
The use of parenteral nutrition via a central venous catheter is a common practice in the neonatal intensive care setting. Extravasation of the infusate leading to an acute abdomen is a complication that has only rarely been documented. This report describes the case of a premature infant with a femoral catheter placed in the inferior vena cava, who developed an acute abdomen as a result of late retroperitoneal extravasation of parenteral nutrition.


METHODS
A pre-term infant receiving total parenteral nutrition via a femoral venous catheter developed an acute abdomen five days after the catheter placement. Extravascular catheter migration to the retroperitoneal space and extravasation of the infusate was diagnosed by contrast injection. Withdrawal of the catheter was followed by prompt cessation of the signs and full recovery from the acute abdomen, without the need for surgery. A review of the literature is presented, emphasizing the clinical and therapeutic aspects of this unusual complication from femoral venous catheterization and parenteral nutrition.
Sztajnbok
Jaques
J
Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Hospital Nossa Senhora da Penha, University of São Paolo, Brazil. jaquess@icr.hcnet.usp.br
Troster
Eduardo Juan
EJ
D000006:Abdomen, Acute / Q000209:etiology*; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005119:Extravasation of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Materials / Q000150:complications*; D005268:Femoral Vein; D006801:Humans; D007227:Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D008297:Male; D010288:Parenteral Nutrition / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods