title: Randomized trial of percutaneous central venous lines versus peripheral intravenous lines.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the occurrence of systemic infection or death in preterm infants with elective percutaneous central line (PCVL) placement versus peripheral intravenous catheter (PIV) placement.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 96 infants < or =1250 g or < or =30 weeks gestation were randomized by 4 days of age to elective placement of a PCVL or continued use of PIV catheters. The primary outcome of systemic infection (defined as a positive blood or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) culture treated for at least 5 days) or death was monitored until the infants did not require intravenous (iv) support for 7 consecutive days.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Systemic infection or death occurred in 17/46 (39%) infants in the PCVL group and 14/50 (28%) in the PIV group (relative risk (RR)=1.32 with 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.70, 2.53; risk difference (RD)=0.09 with 95% CI -0.10, 0.28). The PCVL group had significantly fewer skin punctures for iv access.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was no significant difference in systemic infection or death (expressed either as a combined outcome or as separate component outcomes) between the groups. The number of skin punctures was significantly reduced in the PCVL group.
authors.affiliation: Memorial Hermann Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Verklan
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Kennedy
mesh_terms: D002404:Catheterization / Q000379:methods*; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous; D002406:Catheterization, Peripheral; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008297:Male; D018805:Sepsis / Q000453:epidemiology*