title: Pericardial effusion and cardiac tamponade as complications of neonatal long lines: are they really a problem?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To estimate the frequency of pericardial effusion/cardiac tamponade associated with the use of neonatal percutaneous long lines (PLLs) over the past five years.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective nationwide postal survey, of all neonatal and special care units in the United Kingdom.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eighty two cases of pericardial effusion/cardiac tamponade were reported from the five year period, during which we estimate that 46 000 PLLs were inserted. The calculated frequency of pericardial effusion/cardiac tamponade occurring with PLLs was 1.8/1000 lines. There were 30 deaths, giving a fatality rate after pericardial effusion of 0.7/1000 lines.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pericardial effusion/cardiac tamponade is a serious but infrequent complication of PLL use.
authors.affiliation: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Rosie Maternity, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge, UK. k.beardsall@btinternet.com
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Beardsall
authors.forename: D K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Pinto
authors.forename: A W R
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Kelsall
mesh_terms: D002305:Cardiac Tamponade / Q000209:etiology*; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D015931:Intensive Care, Neonatal / Q000379:methods*; D010289:Parenteral Nutrition, Total / Q000379:methods*; D010490:Pericardial Effusion / Q000209:etiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012306:Risk; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires