Tunneled central venous catheter for neonates: A simple technique for prolonged indwelling central catheters in intensive care.
OBJECTIVE
To describe and evaluate a new technique to insert a 24-gauge Silastic catheter in a central vein with a subcutaneous tunneled catheter in newborns after peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) insertion failure.


METHODS
Retrospective chart review.


METHODS
Pediatric and neonatal intensive care unit.


METHODS
Twenty-nine newborns in whom a new technique was used to insert a prolonged indwelling jugular, femoral, or subclavian Silastic tunneled central catheter.


METHODS
None.


RESULTS
This new technique was used in 29 newborns between January 1, 2004, and December 31, 2005. The mean gestational age was 34 +/- 5 wks with a mean weight of 2440 +/- 1101 g. Thirty-four insertion attempts were carried out. Access sites were internal jugular (28 of 34), femoral (three of 34) or subclavian (three of 34) vein. In five cases, catheter insertion failed. Pneumothorax occurred two times, and no other serious complication were observed.


CONCLUSIONS
This technique is an interesting alternative when PICC insertion is not possible.
Michel
Fabrice
F
Département d'Anesthésie et de Réanimation, Unité de Réanimation Pédiatrique, Néonatale et Brûlés Pédiatriques, Centre Hospitalo-Universitaire Nord, Marseille, France.
Dejode
Jean-Marc
JM
Vialet
Renaud
R
Nicaise
Claire
C
Thomachot
Laurent
L
Di Marco
Jean-Noël
JN
Lagier
Pierre
P
Martin
Claude
C
D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling; D004129:Dimethylpolysiloxanes; D005268:Femoral Vein; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; D007601:Jugular Veins; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000209:etiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012828:Silicones; D013350:Subclavian Vein
D004129:Dimethylpolysiloxanes; D012828:Silicones; C013830:baysilon