Endocavitary electrocardiography during central vein catheter positioning in a newborn with persistent left superior vena cava.
We report an unusual presentation of the P wave and QRS complex during ECG-guided endocavitary assessment of the proper location of the central venous catheter in a pre-term infant operated on for esophageal atresia. The P wave and QRS complex had a normal morphology, but lay specularly to normal above the isoelectric line. The chest x-ray showed that the unusual ECG pattern was due to the left paracardiac position of the catheter, just lateral to the aortic arch within a persistent left superior vena cava.
Avolio
Luigi
L
Department of Pediatric Surgery, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia 27100, Italy. l.avolio@smatteo.pv.it
Rinaldi
Antonio
A
Serafini
Gianpaolo
G
Martucciello
Giuseppe
G
D000200:Action Potentials; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000295:instrumentation*; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000379:methods*; D004933:Esophageal Atresia / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D054079:Vascular Malformations / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014683:Vena Cava, Superior / Q000002:abnormalities*