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Am J Perinatol 1994; 11(1): 67-70
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-994540
ORIGINAL ARTICLE

© 1994 by Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc.

Umbilical Venous Catheterizations: Audit by the Study Group for Complications of Perinatal Care

John Seguin, Mary Ann Fletcher, Susan Landers, David Brown, Trevor Macpherson
  • University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas (J.S.); George Washington University Medical Center, Washington, DC (M.A.F.); Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas (S.L.); and Magee-Women's Hospital, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (D.B., T.M.)
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Publication History

Publication Date:
04 March 2008 (online)

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ABSTRACT

The Study Group for Complications of Perinatal Care, through 13 of its participating neonatal intensive care units, conducted a prospective audit to describe contemporary use of umbilical venous catheters (UVCs) over 3 months in 1951 admissions. Frequency of UVC attempts was 15.5% for all patients and greatest (50%) in patients of 1000 g or less birthweight (BW), with a wide range of frequency by institution and by BW grouping. Institutions with more 1500 g or less BW infants tended to use UVCs more frequently. The most common reason for placement was general intravascular access. A variety of fluids were infused, and in most cases heparin was employed. Mean duration of use was 4.4 days for all patients and longest (5.5 days) in infants in the 1001 to1500g BW group. The most common reason for UVC removal was lack of further need. UVCs appear to be used more commonly and for a longer duration than is currently recommended. There is a need for a prospective, randomized trial to assess the risks properly and maximize the benefits of UVC usage.

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