Ultrasound-guided placement of central venous catheters in neonates weighing less than 500 g: A case report

Abstract

Parenteral nutrition (PN) is a vital treatment for critically ill newborns. Inserting a central venous catheter in a neonate to administer PN and other solutions and drugs incompatible with the peripheral route is crucial and is an urgent procedure. Dislocation or loss of the central vascular catheter implies the placement of a new device, and the inability to insert it may become a clinical emergency in this vulnerable population. We describe the insertion technique of an ultrasound-guided non-tunneled centrally inserted central catheter (CICC) placed in an extremely low-weight and extremely preterm neonate, adapting materials used for placing vascular access devices in the superficial veins of neonates.

Keywords: CICC; ELBW; NICU; Neonate; central venous catheter; centrally inserted central catheter; critically ill; extremely low-birthweight neonate; neonatal intensive care unit; ultrasound; ultrasound-guided vascular access.