Hepatic injury: a possible complication of dopamine infusion through an inappropriately placed umbilical vein catheter

Abstract

A 34-week preterm infant was evaluated for direct hyperbilirubinemia and hepatomegaly at 2 weeks of age. Dopamine had been used in the management of hypotension in the early neonatal period; the drug had been inappropriately infused into the right branch of the portal vein. Ultrasonography of the abdomen at 2 weeks showed mild hepatomegaly and a hypoechoic area in the right lobe of the liver posteriorly. Follow-up ultrasonogram at 3 months showed the liver to be of normal size and echogenicity. Hyperbilirubinemia was resolved by 3 1/2 weeks. No other problems were specifically related to the hepatic injury.